Rock and roll: a lifestyle, a mindset, a revolution.
This Easter weekend, Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre presented their performance of We Will Rock You, paying homage to rockstar idols from the past through a comedic, playful and symbolic plot. The entire cast, from the protagonists to the ensemble delivered a show well worth remembering.
The first half of this show harnesses the attention of the audience scene after scene, song after song. The story is set with ease and natural thespian spark: rock is dead in the future realm of ‘IPlanet’, the government of the Killer Queen oppresses the ‘bohemians’ who dare to challenge to status quo in the fight for their freedom of expression. Rare Studio trainee Jack Ward playing the role of Galileo Figaro, and soon to be musical theatre bachelor’s student Izzy Chapple as Scaramouche, paint a brilliant picture of two young outcasts, hungry for more than the hand they’ve been dealt and the crippling desire to simply be understood.
It goes without saying that the vocal ability of both these young actors is exceptional, taking on renditions of beloved rock fan favourites such as, “Somebody to Love” and “I Want to Break Free”, Ward and Chapple both exceeded expectations for such young voices, while making the music their own still managing to maintain the songs’ original appeal throughout. Translated into the world of ‘IPlanet’ and the ‘bohemian’ resistance, these Queen songs are illuminated in a light perhaps forgotten by their usual audience: Freedom.
The second half deliberately plays into this theme, to encompass this spirit of revolution and humanity through championing rock and roll legends we have lost too young. As the brilliant actors performed the iconic and heart-breaking ‘Only the Good Die Young’, the projector screen behind them presents footage of classic rock heroes, such as Janis Joplin, Kurt Kobain and of course Freddie Murcurey. These reoccurring themes of self-actualisation and liberation of identity reminds us to look inside, to be true to who we are and what we love and allows us to reflect on why we consider the stars shining on the screen our idols in the first place. Going against the grain and forming a collective resistance to conformity is imperative in times of oppression.
While we are shown this through the play itself, it rings alarm bells for us in real life, in this new age of AI, Cyberspace and tyrannical governments. How much do we conform with modern society? What parts of ourselves do we suppress, and what immoral things are we programmed to believe is undoubtedly normal?
At the same time as tackling these emotive topics, actors such as Oscar Martin, playing Buddy, keep things light-hearted and enjoyable with his impeccable comedic timing and delivery. Cheeky yet never too crude, these laughs nourish the true spirt of the play. Keeping it camp, exciting and important, simultaneously. I will mention, however, a slight slip-up with the set, whereby the makeshift tent that Chapple and Ward had to construct would not seem to clip in place as it should, leaving us in slightly awkward silence for a solid 4 minutes during their scene. This being said, I believe this was handled very well by the young performers, as nerve-wracking as this must have been.
To sum up, I thoroughly enjoyed this production of We Will Rock You. Although I do appreciate rock and roll, I wouldn’t say this point is what had the biggest impact on me. Rather, it was this idea of community, fighting for freedom and fighting for love that spoke to me the most, especially in today’s political climate, as I’m sure some of the young actors and audience members would agree. Liverpool’s youth has truly reminded all of us to remain ‘bohemians’ within our own society. I cannot miss mentioning the performance of Bohemian Rhapsody as the grand finale. How spectacular and mesmerising. From the dancers, all the way to the guitar solo from the live band, each part of this performance made the audience stand up on their feet, dance and applaud. (including even, my plus one, who hates rock music).
Liverpool has truly done it again!