We Will Rock You – His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Music: Queen
Lyrics: Queen
Writer: Ben Elton
Director: Rhonda Scott

Based on the music of Queen and written by Ben Elton, who obviously has quite a quirky imagination, We Will Rock You follows the story of Galileo (Alex Donelly) as he realises he is a rebel, the futurist Global Soft Corporation, in the world of iPlanet where he lives has tried to do away with old-fashioned rock and roll only left their people with manufactured music.

The rather stunning Killer Queen (Deborah Townsend) has her heavy man Khashoggi (Stephen Summers) chase away Galileo and fellow misfit Scaramouche (Emmah Chibesakunda) and they find a group of Bohemians who live in “Heartbreak Hotel” with various relics they have found to do with such mysterious names as Ozzy Osbourne, Britney Spears and Boy George. Buddy (Grant Ogston) is a key character here who has some fabulous one liners and a wonderful Liverpudlian drawl.

Unsurprisingly, given the name of the musical, many of the songs are by or adapted from Queen. This performance has fantastic choreography by Victoria Cowan for both the Ga Gas in Killer Queen’s realm and in the wastelands out-with her control. The costumes, from Utopia, are fantastic – especially if you are a fan of through the years.

There are small signs that this is not a big budget production, a notable gap between scenes towards the start, and the singing abilities vary somewhat. However this is a very enjoyable, high energy musical which will appeal to most fans of music, although some knowledge of Queen in particular adds to the enjoyment. Various times the audience involuntarily start clapping or responding without any need for instruction or encouragement. It is a truly joyous show.

Runs until 6 June 2026 | Image: Adele Keith