The smash hit Queen and Ben Elton musical, ‘We Will Rock You’ opens at The O2 tonight for the first of three nights plus a matinee show on Saturday.
With 24 of Queen’s biggest hits delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked the bands’ legendary live performances, this is one of the most spectacular musicals to tour the world.
Unprecedented success in theatres around the world has paved the way for ‘We Will Rock You’ to make the step into arenas, where the Rock Theatrical will be performed in front of thousands of rock fans every night. The world tour sees the show visit arenas in Finland, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Turkey, Bulgaria and the UK and Ireland in 2013. Further dates in Japan, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
On announcing the Arena tour, Queen’s Brian May said: “After our first 10 years in Rock Theatricality, this is the next giant step for WWRY – and the show will feature a brand new arena-size design – a big night out for all!”
The last WWRY UK tour visited six cities across 13 months. The tour sold over half a million tickets, setting and smashing box office records and was crowned the UK’s favourite show at the prestigious Olivier awards. The London production of the show has just celebrated its 10th birthday and it is the longest running musical ever staged at the West End’s Dominion Theatre, booking until October 2012. The show has thrilled over seven million people in the UK, and close on 15 million people in 17 countries worldwide.
The production is directed by Ben Elton, with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors, Arlene Phillips oversees the musical staging and choreography.
Writer Ben Elton has fashioned a hilarious futuristic comedy around more than 24 of Queen’s biggest hit songs delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked Queen’s live performances.
“This show is all about legend,” says Ben Elton. “We take the legend of Queen and create our own fantastical story of young kids battling the might corporations who want to suppress their individuality and their love of music. They need a hero who can help them in their struggle, and we have two – the dreamer Galileo and the sassy rock chick Scaramouche. Guess who ends up winning?”
Brian May adds: “The amazing bonus is that Ben’s script subtly works as a metaphor too. People definitely come out of the theatre feeling that in a strange way they now know us, Queen, and our struggle, our journey.”
Says producer Phil McIntyre: “We are looking forward to taking this true Rock Theatrical out on the road again. We had standing ovations night after night around the UK last time and we can’t wait to see that happen again.”
The touring production reaches worldwide arenas carrying with it an impressive legacy: when it first became news that one of Britain’s most phenomenally successful comedy writers Ben Elton was teaming up with legends of rock, Queen, for a musical there was much speculation on what such a unique collaboration would turn out. So impressed after attending the original workshop, screen icon Robert De Niro and his company Tribeca came on board as American partners. De Niro continues to support the show, even making a special visit to London in May this year to help celebrate the 10th anniversary in style. The audience erupted with thunderous applause, as he joined the cast on stage after the landmark performance.
‘ONE DREAM, ONE VISION, ONE SMASH HIT!’
The O2 Dublin
Thursday 4th April 8pm
Friday 5th April 8pm
Saturday 6th April 8pm plus matinee 2.30pm
Tickets from 40 euro including booking fee on sale now
The Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Wednesday 12th June 8pm
Thursday 13th June 8pm
Friday 14th June 8pm
Saturday 15th June 8pm plus matinee 2.30pm
Tickets from 30 pounds including booking fee on sale now
