Synopsis
We Will Rock You (WWRY) is set in the future in a world where live music and muscial instruments are banned. The only songs and dance routines that are allowed are those taught in school to the GaGa kids which are uniform, rigid and robotic. Set on Planet Mall, the world is ruled over by the Killer Queen and the GlobalSoft Corporation with the chief of police Commander Khashoggi. Not everyone is content, however, to live a life in unison with everyone around them and a bunch of rebels are trying to fight the regime. Known as Bohemians, they need to live in hiding or Khashoggi will wipe their minds and reset them back to a GaGa clone. At the start of the show we meet Pop, an old Librarian who has read about the secret histories and knows that the world wasn't always this way. He is a bit of a hippy who doesn't fit in with the GlobalSoft view of how things should be and unfortunately he is unable to evade capture by Khashoggi and his cops. He is taken away to have his memory wiped.
The hero of the tale is Galileo, a young boy and rebel who dreams in song lyrics and is constantly saying things he doesn't fully understand. He has named himself and this act of disobedience brings him to the attention of those in authority. He is quickly captured and take away, along with a young girl whose name we do not know but who shares his desire to be different. The pair of them wake up in a hospital room and find the whole situation very awkward. Galileo is a scared boy and the girl is feisty and knows her own mind. They decide to escape together and go in search of something better. Galileo dreams a name for his companion and calls her Scaramouche (he has several other options which are rejected by her almost instantly). The pair travel together and become increasingly close although there is always an edge to Scarmouche and a tension between them. They encounter two Bohemians called Brit and Meat who have named themselves after legendary performers they read about in the archives. Britney (Spears) realises that Galileo is special (won over by him quoting from Bohemian Rhapsody) and the pair decide to take the youngsters back to their secret hideout where scores more Bohemians are hiding. They have not been there long when Khashoggi and the police bust into the hideout and the Bohemians are captured. A fight occurs and Britney is killed although the diversion does allow Galileo and Scaramouche to escape.
On the run again things are difficult for the duo and they bicker constantly (with a non-subtle sexual tension running through all the scenes). They have heard the prophesy of the Place of the Living Rock and are determined to find it, looking for a bright, bright star which will lead the way. Back in the cells the Bohemians all have their minds wiped and are released to the Seven Seas of Rhye where Pop has set up a bar. It turns out that his mind wipe was not successful as he knew too much but he's not causing any trouble so the police don't come after him anymore. Galileo and Scaramouche appear at the bar and are suprised and pleased to find their friends still alive - even if they are now zombies. Pop explains all about Queen and the secret tapes which have been left behind and as the lake behind them begins to drain (their water is always being stolen) a statue of Freddie begins to emerge, pointing towards the remains of Wembley Stadium. They get on Pop's motorbike and arrive at the stadium to find it in ruins. They are a little deflated until they discover an electric guitar and begin rocking out to the title song. Killer Queen is defeated and live music wins the day!
The hero of the tale is Galileo, a young boy and rebel who dreams in song lyrics and is constantly saying things he doesn't fully understand. He has named himself and this act of disobedience brings him to the attention of those in authority. He is quickly captured and take away, along with a young girl whose name we do not know but who shares his desire to be different. The pair of them wake up in a hospital room and find the whole situation very awkward. Galileo is a scared boy and the girl is feisty and knows her own mind. They decide to escape together and go in search of something better. Galileo dreams a name for his companion and calls her Scaramouche (he has several other options which are rejected by her almost instantly). The pair travel together and become increasingly close although there is always an edge to Scarmouche and a tension between them. They encounter two Bohemians called Brit and Meat who have named themselves after legendary performers they read about in the archives. Britney (Spears) realises that Galileo is special (won over by him quoting from Bohemian Rhapsody) and the pair decide to take the youngsters back to their secret hideout where scores more Bohemians are hiding. They have not been there long when Khashoggi and the police bust into the hideout and the Bohemians are captured. A fight occurs and Britney is killed although the diversion does allow Galileo and Scaramouche to escape.
On the run again things are difficult for the duo and they bicker constantly (with a non-subtle sexual tension running through all the scenes). They have heard the prophesy of the Place of the Living Rock and are determined to find it, looking for a bright, bright star which will lead the way. Back in the cells the Bohemians all have their minds wiped and are released to the Seven Seas of Rhye where Pop has set up a bar. It turns out that his mind wipe was not successful as he knew too much but he's not causing any trouble so the police don't come after him anymore. Galileo and Scaramouche appear at the bar and are suprised and pleased to find their friends still alive - even if they are now zombies. Pop explains all about Queen and the secret tapes which have been left behind and as the lake behind them begins to drain (their water is always being stolen) a statue of Freddie begins to emerge, pointing towards the remains of Wembley Stadium. They get on Pop's motorbike and arrive at the stadium to find it in ruins. They are a little deflated until they discover an electric guitar and begin rocking out to the title song. Killer Queen is defeated and live music wins the day!
Characters
- Galileo Figaro - The dreamer who hears words in his head and wants to break free
- Scaramouche - An outcast who goes along with Galileo for the ride
- Killer Queen - The boss of GlobalSoft
- Comander Khashoggi - Killer Queen's right hand man
- Britney - a male bohemian who is searching for the dreamer and willing to die for him
- Meat - a female bohemian who is more suspicious of Galileo
- Pop - an old librarian who runs the Seven Seas Drinking Club
Popular Songs
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Creators
Queen - Music/Lyrics
Queen are a British rock band formed in 1970. The original members are Freddie Mercury (vocals), Brian May (guitar), John Deacon (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums). Their original songs would class more as progressive rock or heavy metal but their sound developed towards more radio-friendly sounds as their career progressed. By the early 1980s Queen were one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world, performing a critically acclaimed set at Live Aid in 1985. Freddie Mercury died in 1991 due to a complication of AIDS although the other members are still alive. May and Taylor still tour as Queen with guest vocals provided most notably by Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert. In 2002, Bohemian Rhapsody was voted the UKs favourite hit of all time and in 2004 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The band had a total of 18 number one albums and 18 number one singles, selling over 150 million records although it may be many more.
Queen are a British rock band formed in 1970. The original members are Freddie Mercury (vocals), Brian May (guitar), John Deacon (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums). Their original songs would class more as progressive rock or heavy metal but their sound developed towards more radio-friendly sounds as their career progressed. By the early 1980s Queen were one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world, performing a critically acclaimed set at Live Aid in 1985. Freddie Mercury died in 1991 due to a complication of AIDS although the other members are still alive. May and Taylor still tour as Queen with guest vocals provided most notably by Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert. In 2002, Bohemian Rhapsody was voted the UKs favourite hit of all time and in 2004 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The band had a total of 18 number one albums and 18 number one singles, selling over 150 million records although it may be many more.
Ben Elton - Book/Lyrics
Born in 1959, Ben Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright, actor and director. His first appearance on TV was on a BBC1 youth show called the Oxford Road Show although he had to wait several more years for success! He was a co-writer on the hit sitcom The Young Ones where he occasionally had a small part. He was drafted into help the comedy show Blackadder become a success after its first series wasn't quite working. He co-wrote Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third and Blackadder goes Forth with Richard Curtis. He has published 15 novels, all of which have reached the UK Top 10. As well as WWRY, Elton has worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on The Beautiful Game and Love Never Dies.
Born in 1959, Ben Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright, actor and director. His first appearance on TV was on a BBC1 youth show called the Oxford Road Show although he had to wait several more years for success! He was a co-writer on the hit sitcom The Young Ones where he occasionally had a small part. He was drafted into help the comedy show Blackadder become a success after its first series wasn't quite working. He co-wrote Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third and Blackadder goes Forth with Richard Curtis. He has published 15 novels, all of which have reached the UK Top 10. As well as WWRY, Elton has worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on The Beautiful Game and Love Never Dies.
Notable Productions
Interesting Facts
- The Bohemians are given different names in different productions to reflect the times and local audience. Some examples are Paul McCartney, Madonna, Bob the Builder, Jackson Five, Cheeky Girls, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Crazy Frog, Puff Daddy and Beyonce but there are many more, usually music related.
- The show contains lyrics from many non-Queen songs and albums, often quoted by Galileo, including many by the Beatles as well as ABBA, Bob Dylan and more recently Amy WineHouse and Michael Jackson. The script is being constantly being updated to keep it fresh.
- The original London production was scheduled to close in October 2006 but due to public demand it remained open and didn't close until May 2014, making it the longest running musical ever at the Dominion Theatre.