We Will Rock You ends its triumphant twelve year West End run at the Dominion Theatre today (Saturday 31st May 2014). Over the past few years we've spoken to several of We Will Rock You's incredibly talented stars, take a look at what they had to say about the show below:
Stars as Galileo in the final cast
"I had seen the show several times over the past ten years and seen some amazing people play Galileo but honestly never thought I would get to play it because I’m too tall. Thankfully over the years the part has stretched – literally. Queen has a very distinctive sound with good technique behind it, so going into the show was great because it still pushed me but didn’t break me.
"At first I went into the show thinking “how am I going to portray this troubled teen when I’m 6’4” and approaching 30?”. During rehearsals I found that playing him a bit more like a rebel, rather than a ‘dweeb’, worked better for me. Sometimes directors will expect you to play a role exactly the same as the person before, which, in my opinion, is when shows and characters become tired and lose their punch. But in Rock You I was able to develop the role over the first few months, I didn’t just go into the show trying to completely re-write the part.
"We Will Rock You is a beast of a show. There are so many people in the cast but myself and Scaramouche don’t encounter many other cast members throughout the show. This means you have to go out of your way to hang out with people and to say hello. Everyone is lovely and I love spending time in wardrobe village. The cast can make or break a show but I’m so lucky to be part of such a strong, friendly company.
"Rachel Wooding (who plays Scaramouche) and I get on like a house on fire! She really is like a sister to me which helps with our on-stage relationship. Just before we’re about to go on for a scene she’ll give me a dead arm which she finds really funny, but it kind of helps with our chemistry. We’ve actually performed in concerts together before too and I’ve always thought that our voices go well together, so to be able to perform with her on-stage every night is a dream."
Understudies Killer Queen in final cast
"I am having the most wonderful time, I still love it as much as the very first day I joined the cast! I still have to pinch myself when I walk past the Dominion Theatre and realise that it's my place of work! The show appeals to so many people and I am always amazed at how young some of the fans are, and it just goes to show how popular and legendary Queen's music is.
"I love the storyline to, and I think we can all relate to the madness of the Globalsoft Corporation and how advanced technology is in this day and age! The finale of We Will Rock You is pretty spectacular to and always has the audience up on their feet rocking away with us! I absolutely love understudying and playing Killer Queen! She is such a powerful, controlling character with some brilliant scenes and some fantastic songs. I love getting in the costumes and I have to say, I am very attached to my huge Killer Queen wig!
"We have an area called Wardrobe Village where we (the ensemble) remain throughout the show and all get changed. I think if someone came in and saw us in Wardrobe Village, they wouldn't know where to look as there is so much going on at such a speed! There are so many quick costume changes as well as making sure we sing in the booth for certain songs. I remember it being very daunting when I started, thinking that I'd never be ready in time with the quick costume and make up changes! But we have fantastic dressers and wig mistresses who are always at the ready to help us in any way we need.
"There is a real 'family' feel in We Will Rock You, which is lovely especially as it's such a big team to be part of! And it makes it even more special when I go on for Killer Queen, as you know that there is 100% support from everyone in the cast which really spurs you on."
Understudied Scaramouche and Meat
"We Will Rock You is such a fun show to be part of. It is a very well oiled machine and as cast members we get treated really well, obviously the music is fantastic. I think a lot of people come for the music so not a day goes by where you don’t get a massive buzz during the finale. Even if people don’t necessarily realise that they like Queen they probably know all the songs.
"Since being cast in We Will Rock You I’ve realised that Queen music is everywhere, it’s always used on adverts and so on. I loved it when Brian May and Roger Taylor came in to work with us, for them it’s not work, they absolutely love it which really rubs off on the cast and audience. Also people have told me that they don’t usually like musicals but love We Will Rock You. It’s not traditional musical theatre, it’s a good fun jukebox musical with a great storyline and an amazing live band who are all hard core rockers! It’s a very special show to be part of and I love seeing the audience response every night.
"It’s a great cast to be a part of, they’re all really inspiring to work with. Everyone is so dedicated and very professional. We have a wardrobe area backstage where we get changed throughout the show – we call it Wardrobe Village. Some days you go in there and everyone is quietly their phones or reading books, other days you go in and people are putting on crazy performances, one guy is always doing impressions of Cher - it is constantly entertaining. We all feel like part of a family."
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Starred as Scaramouche in West End & international arena tour
"It was always a dream of mine since my dad took me to see the show when I was about 18 and I remember sitting there thinking, “One day, if I’m ever good enough, I’d love to play that part, maybe when I finish drama school.” So to actually be cast in the role was a dream come true – you really do feel like a rock star on that stage, singing all those amazing Queen songs!
"The cast and crew involved in the show are all lovely. To actually have been directed by Ben Elton was amazing, the way his mind works is incredible. To be on stage with Brian May and Roger Taylor was very special. The international tour was amazing - visiting all those incredible countries and those amazing arenas and playing to thousands of people who just love Queen was a wonderful feeling."
Understudied Scaramouche and Meat
"My dream ever since I was twelve, when the show first came out, was to one day play Scaramouche. Meat and Scaramouche are very different characters. Scaramouche is your outcast sarcastic and witty, and she doesn't care what she says to anyone. And Meatloaf is the 'leader of the gang' type of girl, ballsy, knows what she wants and puts her man Britney in his place quite often. I have loved every single second
"The atmosphere backstage is madness. We have a village out the back which is where all ensemble get changed and one minute you're in a quick change then next minute someone is running around singing 'Defying Gravity' with a black cloak and a broom from the corridor [laughs]! It is crazy and would make a great documentary.
Starred as Meat and understudied Scaramouche
"It was such a fantastic year. I love the show and have seen it about twelve times; I absolutely love it and will see it again before it closes. I just love its energy and vibe. I’m gutted and don’t know why it’s closing! I’m gutted for everyone there who are losing their jobs!"
West End star & WWRY fan
"I have a not so secret passion for We Will Rock You, I just love the music so much!"
West End star & WWRY fan
"One of my favourite shows has to be We Will Rock You, the music and atmosphere is out of this world. The first time I went I was just in awe of the voices and that’s one show I would love to be in. I would just love to sing Galileo’s songs every night."
West End Frame's Editor, Andrew Tomlins, recently wrote: "The Queen musical has divided opinions throughout its twelve year West End run and this certainly isn't the last we'll see of it! (Plus there could be a sequel on the way...)
"Love it or hate it, We Will Rock You is an extremely important piece of theatre as it has attracted new audiences to the West End for over a decade. There are so many people who would rather stick pins in their eyes than sit through an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, but have seen We Will Rock You countless times.
"The musical has been kept alive for all these years by its tremendous casts, and the final company couldn't be stronger. The West End will not be the same!"
"Love it or hate it, We Will Rock You is an extremely important piece of theatre as it has attracted new audiences to the West End for over a decade. There are so many people who would rather stick pins in their eyes than sit through an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, but have seen We Will Rock You countless times.
"The musical has been kept alive for all these years by its tremendous casts, and the final company couldn't be stronger. The West End will not be the same!"
Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
I too bought a dress online. The designer emailed me within 2 hours of when I placed my order to confirm my measurements and then recommended a better size for me.
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