We Will Rock You - Introduction & Credits

 

The musical was written by Ben Elton and is set to the music of Queen, with many lyrics being changed to reflect the characters or plot. The music is performed live each night by a band, hidden behind scaffolding at the sides of the stage. It was produced jointly by Phil McIntyre, Queen Theatrical Productions and Tribeca Theatrical Productions (co-owned by the actor Robert De Niro).

The musical first opened on 24 April 2002, at the Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London. The world premiere was held on 14 May 2002, and a live cast recording was released on 11 November 2002. The first anniversary show was held on 18th June 2003, attended by Brian and Roger and many other celebrities. It also marked the official opening of the Freddie Mercury Photographic Exhibition and the unveiling of an 8 metre high statue of Freddie on the canopy of the theatre. The London production costs over £250,000 to stage each week, and virtually all shows get a standing ovation from the 2,200 strong audience. The show celebrated it's 1,000th performance on 12 January 2005, with all profits donated to the Indian Earthquake Tsunami appeal.

In March 2009, a second UK production was also launched which will tour throughout the UK, alongside the London show. The touring production featured Roger's son Rufus on drums.

Footage of the London musical can be found on the 2003 'Made In Heaven - The Films' DVD release.

To date, the musical has been performed in the following countries/territories: (dates of first performances in brackets, where known)

Other planned productions include Italy (due to open December 2009), Portugal, Chile and Argentina, plus countless others.

The UK Touring Production has visited (or is due to visit) the following cities:

In addition to the musical, Queen have recorded tracks with various members of the productions. Three of these tracks have been released as part of a download EP, titled 'We Will Rock You - Around The World'

  1. 'Another One Bites The Dust', featuring Annie Crummer ('Killer Queen' from the Australian production)
    (released as a single in New Zealand and also appears on the download EP)
  2. 'No-One But You', featuring Eva Maria Cortes ('Meat' from the Madrid production)
    (released as a single in Spain in 2004 and also appears on the Spanish cast album)
  3. 'No-One But You', featuring Kerry Ellis ('Meat' from the London production)
    (released as an internet download on 19 March 2005, also appears on the download EP and a sampler CD for 'Wicked In Rock')
  4. 'Medley: Radio Ga Ga, Somebody To Love, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions', featuring the German cast
    (performed live on the 'Wetten Dass' TV programme, and released on the download EP only)

In addition, there are two related tracks which do not feature Queen:

  1. 'We Are The Champions', by the German cast
    (released on an EP download of 'We Are The Champions' in 2006)
  2. 'No One But You' by 'We Will Rock You Japan featuring Rebecca Jackson Mendoza'
    (at one point, this was available through the Shinjuku Koma Theatre in Tokyo)

Details of all tracks above can be found here.

Finally there are three tracks not taken from the musical, but recorded with cast members:

Main Credits | Production Credits | Cast Credits

Ben Elton (writer), Robert De Niro (producer), Brian May and Roger Taylor (Musical supervisors/producers) at the 'We Will Rock You' musical press conference, between March and May 2002.

The Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London, home of the London production.

Brian, Roger and Ben Elton at the press conference at the Paris Theatre, Las Vegas, in 2004.

Main Credits
Music and lyrics by Queen
Story and script by Ben Elton
Musical supervisors: Mike Dixon, Brian May and Roger Taylor
Vocal Harmony Arrangements: Brian May and Mike Dixon
Directed by Christopher Renshaw

Production Credits
Orchestrator: Steve Stidwell
Production Designer: Mark Fisher
Lighting Designer: Willie Williams
Sound Designer: Bobby Aitken
Costume Designer: Tim Goodchild
Video Directors: Mark Fisher & Willie Williams
Fight Director: Gordon Alexander
Casting Director: Pippa Ailion
US Casting: Bernard Telsey Casting
Musical Staging & Choreography: Arlene Phillips

Main Cast Credits

Below are the details of the main cast (the 7 prinicpal characters) for the London show from the premiere in 2002 until January 2006. Subsequent performers are not included, due to the number of changes in the cast and the general lack of information. The cast members of the 2009 production are listed at the end.

Main Cast from April 2002 - April 2004:
Pop - Nigel Planer
Khashoggi - played by Alexander Hanson until October 2002, and then by Clive Carter
Gallileo Figaro - played by Tony Vincent until late 2003, and then by Mig Ayesa
Scaramouche - Hannah Jane Fox
Killer Queen - Sharon D. Clarke
Britney - Nigel Clauzel
Meat - Kerry Ellis

Main Cast from April 2004 - April 2005:
Pop - Mark Arden
Khashoggi - Clive Carter
Gallileo Figaro - Mig Ayesa
Scaramouche - Hannah Jane Fox
Killer Queen - Mazz Murray
Britney - Nigel Clauzel
Meat - Jenna Lee-James

Main Cast from April 2005 until January 2006
Pop - Jeff Shankley
Khashoggi - Alex Bourne
Gallileo Figaro - Mig Ayesa
Scaramouche - Hannah Jane Fox
Killer Queen - Mazz Murray
Britney - Colin Charles
Meat - Jenna Lee-James

2009 Touring Production Cast
Pop - Kevin Kennedy
Khashoggi - Jonathan Wilkes
Gallileo Figaro - Alex Gaumond
Scaramouche - Sarah French-Ellis
Killer Queen - Brenda Edwards
Britney - Wayne A. Robinson
Meat - Georgina Hagen