Rugby Theatre's 'We Will Rock You' certainly will!
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We Will Rock You, Music and Lyrics by Queen, Story and Script by Ben Elton, at Rgby Theatre from 20 – 27 June 2026. Directed by Emma Bright, Musical Director Liam Walker, Choreographer Jo Walker.
Review by Ann Evans
This could be the shortest review ever – I only need two words to describe Rugby Theatre’s production of We Will Rock You – Utterly Brilliant!
But I won’t stop there because there is so much worth saying about this show, and if you have tickets then can I encourage you to get a programme and read the Introduction by Director Emma Bright which tells of the incredible work that has gone into every aspect of this show.
Creating the set and scenery, the video wall and screens – everything has been painstakingly worked out, built and re-built; the sound, lighting and projection, the hours of hard work getting everything ‘just so’; the special effects are all so excellently worked out and designed giving this an incredibly professional finish. Fantastic work by the volunteer backstage team.
And the show itself! If we’d been told this was a West End cast on tour then I would have believed it, but no, these are local singers and dancers who perform, sound and look like a West End troupe, putting on a show full of personality, humour, drama and fantastic music! Musical Director and keyboard 1 in the live 7-piece band is Liam Walker, and Choreographer is Jo Walker – of whom Director Emma Bright says, she couldn’t and wouldn’t have done this show without.
On to the show itself. It’s set in a dystopian future, it’s 2326, following a huge war that triggered a natural disaster, what humans are left are all under the control of AI, individuality has been erased and all music is under the control of the Killer Queen and her Globalsoft Corporation, people are controlled by microchips implanted in their heads. Natalie Van Spelde takes on this ruthless, powerful Killer Queen with absolute confidence – and what a voice! A fabulous performance by her.
In this dystopian world, live music and original thought is forbidden – musical instruments are regarded as folklore or just ancient myths, but there is a small pocket of rebellion led by tartan clad Khashoggi (Ciaran Dempsey) and his girlfriend Oz (Becca Shaw). This pair are fabulous together, with incredible voices. And about to join the rebellion, though he doesn’t yet know it, is a young, anxious man who is struggling with the crazy mixed-up thoughts and dreams flashing through his mind. Will Neale as Galileo is brilliant in this lead role as too is the ‘leading lady’ Libby Lowe as Scaramouche. Brilliant singing and performances by both of these performers.
All twenty-three Queen numbers throughout the show tell the story of the struggle to re-discover live music. There’s passion, masses of humour, fantastic singing and harmonising; superb music from the band, brilliant choreography and dancing by the cast – the guys equally as professional and talented as the women – and just as raunchy in places! Well done to every one of them, and hats off to the Musical Director Liam Walker and Choreographer, Jo Walker for creating such excellent and entertaining routines.
Towards the ending there is a moment that genuinely sent shivers down my spine – which, if you’re a Queen fan, you’ll probably experience too. And as for the finale – literally the entire auditorium was on its feet. An incredible finale.... an incredible show! I loved it and I would happily watch this production again and again!
If tickets are available, book here: https://www.rugbytheatre.co.uk/
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