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A thrilling, wonderful production that brought lots of laughter and entertainment

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Queen is without a doubt one of the greatest bands of all time. The legacy they’ve created is unlike any other band in modern history and their music is a source of joy and inspiration for people the world over. We Will Rock You is Ben Elton’s love letter to that legacy and Hamilton Theatre Arts honour everything this show represents, embodying the true spirit of rock.

We Will Rock You definitely has one of the wilder narratives as musicals go, even when it comes to jukebox musicals, which do love to stretch a plot to fit around the songs they desire to fit in. In this instance, it works to the advantage of the overall show. Set in a dystopian future, Earth, now known as the iPlanet, is controlled by the corporate entity known as Globalsoft. All music is digitally manufactured by Globalsoft while real people are banned from creating music of their own. Rock music, individuality and any form of expression is strictly prohibited by Killer Queen, CEO of Globalsoft. Those who rebel against the corporation’s directive are outcasts, fugitives known as the Bohemians. Even names don’t exist in this cyberworld. So, when a boy calling himself Galileo Figaro hears ancient lyrics in his head and a voice telling him to break free, police chief Khashoggi sees to it that he is silenced, as well as another rebel. A girl who speaks her mind and isn’t afraid to name Globalsoft as fascists. Upon being arrested, she ends up in the same prison as Galileo, realising he is different to the Gaga Girls she is usually surrounded by. Galileo doesn’t know who he is or why he hears so many songs and words in his head but he knows that the corporation’s enforced uniformity is wrong and escapes with the rebel girl. He then gives her a name, one of the many words that come into his head; Scaramouche! Finding a new sense of identity in this name, Scaramouche sets off with Galileo where they stumble upon the Bohemians, other rebels like them who believe in rock, love, sex and free expression. They also have insight into why Galileo hears things, labelling him as “The Dreamer”, a prophesised saviour who will lead them to a long-lost instrument and to a new age of rock, restoring the music lost in the ancient texts. 

Conceptually, it’s pretty bonkers, there really is no better word for it but that is precisely why it works. There’s a madcap energy woven throughout the show that really resonates with the themes of rock and roll and taking a stand against injustice. We really see that energy throughout the cast and especially in characters like Scaramouche. Hayley Doyle played this character exactly the way it’s meant to be portrayed, down to a tee. Scaramouche’s sarcasm, defiant spirit and refusal to conform are translated beautifully through Doyle’s performance. This was by far some of the best acting I’ve seen in a non-professional production and she really makes you fall in love with the character. Doyle’s comic timing is well suited to the role, particularly in moments where she is mystified by Galileo’s behaviour. Harry Reid did an excellent job with demonstrating some of Galileo’s more eccentric traits, like the tics when lyrics enter his mind, as if the spirit of Queen is possessing him. This was also showcased through his voice as Reid reminded the audience just how difficult songs like “We Are The Champions” can be and how satisfying it is when a performer can do them justice. Doyle’s singing was just as impressive, both in vocal quality and endurance. Queen’s music is arguably some of the most challenging ever written to perform, with some songs going as high as a G5. The music requires commitment and some serious vocal stamina, both of which Doyle demonstrated, most beautifully in “Somebody To Love”. 

In truth, the entire cast were rather extraordinary in this regard. Robyn Jager’s performance as Killer Queen could only be described as iconic, excelling in this villainous role. Her vocals during “Another One Bites The Dust” were stunning, giving a performance which drew many cheers from the audience. The relationship between her and Adam Gallagher’s Khashoggi was one of the most entertaining parts of the evening and it was in their scenes that the true comic nature of their characters shone through. Gallagher’s vacuum entrance in one sequence was one of the funniest moments and a mirror of the classic music video for “I Want To Break Free”. His comic abilities stood out even in a show with a lot of humour. 

This show’s humour is clever, often using old song lyrics to punctuate regular conversation but the thing that made people laugh the most were the names. Each Bohemian character chooses their own name, taken from the sacred texts of rock. This leads to characters such as Madonna, Buddy Holly and The Crickets (yes, used in full when introduced), Oz for Ozzy Osbourne and the male leader of the rebels, Britney Spears (Brit for short). The varied references to musical legends were always met with a laugh.

While humour is a common theme and the scene in which the captured rebels being electrocuted is played for laughs, it also paints a dark picture of the use of re-education through torture on prisoners to ensure they comply with the regime. It could even be interpreted as a potential allegory for conversion therapy, acting as a link to Freddie Mercury’s sexual identity and enforcing the corporation’s views on expression of identity.

Something that truly stood out in this production was the choreography. Every member of the cast showed a remarkable skill level throughout the entire show and this was highlighted in scenes at Globalsoft headquarters. The passion and intensity were staggering; it blew me away how co-ordinated everyone was. The level was genuinely that of a professional West End show. Outstanding!

The thing that really made this production so incredible was the fact that every single person gave their all to it. Nobody gave less than 100% which is crucial as this show really demands it. Vocally, physically, mentally, in every way you can imagine. Especially due to the fact these characters have so much personality and energy, there is no room to let that drop and not a single person did.

My only note is that the mics definitely could use some attention as there were moments where they didn’t work well or cut out completely. However, this is a minor scruple in an otherwise superb show and by no means the fault of anyone onstage.

Overall, We Will Rock You was a thrilling, wonderful production that brought lots of laughter and entertainment. All cast members from Hamilton Theatre Arts should be very proud of themselves and everyone should rush to see any performances they produce in the future. They’re really something else.