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Imagine a world with no music, where people all dress, think, and act the same, and ingenuity and uniqueness are shunned. This is the world created and then destroyed in We Will Rock You, a modern jukebox musical that had its debut in the West End in 2002. This show takes the music of Queen and works it into a fanciful storyline that showcases the greatness of rock and roll.

Ben Elton, an English comedian and writer, is the brain behind this musical. The music is that of Queen, and its members Brian May and Roger Taylor who worked with Elton to create the show. The original idea was to do a biography of Freddie Mercury in musical form. This did not fly, however, and the story was changed into a futuristic story of rebellion and the rebirth of music.

Elton claims that the computer-controlled world of The Matrix was part of the inspiration behind his plot. The story opens 300 years in the future. People at this time are living on a planet called Planet Mall, the new name for Earth, and it is under the control of Globalsoft Corporation. People are told how to act, speak, dress, and be entertained. No one knows of music.

Along comes Galileo, the classic rebel. In his dreams he hears music, but does not know what it is or what it means. When he refuses to conform to the rest of his classmates’ uniformity, he is captured by Globalsoft’s police. While in custody he meets a female rebel, who becomes his sidekick and eventual love interest in the show.

The leader of Globalsoft, The Killer Queen, is acting on a prophecy she has heard stating that there are instruments hidden in Planet Mall. The instruments are supposed to be hiding in the “place of the living rock.” Thus, Killer Queen blows up all of the rocks on the planet in an attempt to destroy the instruments.

Galileo and his lady friend meet up with the Bohemians, rebels who want to bring back music. When the rebels realize that Galileo is the fulfillment of the prophecy, they embrace him and his lady and begin making plans to bring music back to the world. They eventually succeed, and the closing number of the show is “We Will Rock You,” for which it is named.

Throughout the musical the music of Queen is featured. Songs like “We Are the Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Who Wants to Live Forever” are all well known to music aficionados, which is part of what makes this far-fetched story line so appealing.

We Will Rock You has won several awards, including a Theatergoer’s Choice Award for the Best New Musical in 2003, and a Helpmann Award for Best Musical in 2004. Since its London opening in 2002, the show has been seen across the globe including Asia, North American, Africa, and many places throughout Europe. Rumors indicate that a sequel could be coming in the near future, but until that time, theatergoers can enjoy the music of Queen in a whole new light with We Will Rock You.

If you fancy some We Will Rock You tickets or any other Theatre Tickets visit the website.

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