We Will Rock You
Theatre Royal Windsor
until Saturday 22nd August
Stunning. Weird. Wonderful. Electric. We Will Rock You at Theatre Royal Windsor was all of these things. Having loved the previous community production of Grease, my daughter and I arrived hoping this year’s show would be just as good. We needn’t have worried – it was even better.
Directed by Carole Todd, who has now directed the last seven community projects at Theatre Royal Windsor, this production was full of imagination, energy and confidence. From the moment the Gaga girls appeared in their matching silver wigs and dresses, dancing in perfect unison to Radio Ga Ga, we knew we were in for something special. The choreography by Hannah Victoria Bennett was stunning throughout, with that opening number immediately setting the pace for the evening.
Set 300 years in the future, the story takes us to a world controlled by a giant corporate network called the iPlanet. Live music and musical instruments have been outlawed, and everyone is expected to consume computer-generated pop music instead. Against this highly controlled world appears a group of rebels determined to bring back the freedom, creativity and power of live music.
Ben Elton‘s story brings his trademark comic touch, whilst the Queen songs fit seamlessly into the action, helping to drive the story forward. The energy remains high throughout, carrying us through the narrative, at times on the edge of our seats.
There were some exceptional performances, beautiful vocals from Charlotte Tuffen as Scaramouche, a mesmerising performance from Ella Murphy as Oz, and incredible stage presence from Michael Workman as Brit.
The production design was equally impressive. The clever use of video helped transform and enhance the stage set, while the lighting added real atmosphere and, at times, made the audience feel as though we were part of the action.
And then there was Bohemian Rhapsody. It was worth the wait. A spectacular moment that brought the whole production together and left the audience with exactly the feeling you’d hope for from a show celebrating Queen’s music.
What makes these community productions so special is seeing local performers come together to create something that feels genuinely professional, and this production certainly achieved that. Carole Todd and her creative team have once again brought together a talented cast and given them a production bursting with energy, humour and heart.
My daughter and I went in hoping We Will Rock You would live up to Grease. We came away thinking it had rocked it right out of the park.
We Will Rock You is playing at the Theatre Royal Windsor until Saturday 22 August
Reviewer: Klara Kallis
Photographer: Simon Vail