Queen Still Rocks You

Queen Still Rocks You

As the cast of the new Australian production of We Will Rock You rehearsed ahead of opening night, Stage Whsipers Editor Neil Litchfield took the chance to chat to several ensemble members about Queen, and their favourite moments in the show.

Watching a rehearsal of We Will Rock You, I can’t help but marvel at the Ensemble; talented triple threats all, they’re the heart and soul of Australian musical theatre and potential stars into the future. With the media scrum forming around the stars at this press call, I chatted to a group of the ensemble members about the place that the songs of rock super band Queen hold in the soundtracks of their lives.

“My parents loved Queen, and at every get-together ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ played about 10 times,” says Sheridan Anderson. “So the first album I was given, when I was ten, was Queen’s Greatest Hits. I grew up with every song, but, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ aside, ‘You’re My Best Friend’ is my favourite – it’s just got such a nice message.”

“My favourite Queen song is ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, although unfortunately we don’t get to perform it,” Sarah Clarke adds. “With our lives of continually auditioning and getting knocked back. It’s one of the songs I enjoy most to dance to – it vibrates through my whole body.”

“I actually collect vinyl,” Erinn Arnel tells me, “and when I was in Year 10 I found Queen’s Greatest Hits in a second hand record store. The song I loved most was ‘I Want To Break Free’. There’s something about it - I love the guitar riff. I actually performed it with Chunky Move a few years ago, so to come back to that song, as you grow up. That’s one of the great things about Queen, it will just never get old and will be one of those very special moments that you bring yourself back to.”

“I really love ‘I Want it All’, because I grew up in the suburbs,” says Mike Snell. “I started dancing when I was 17, and just didn’t think I could do what I’m doing today – perform every night of my life and earn money. I didn’t know it was an actual career path. It’s got a great message for young people who are setting huge goals in their lives, who think they can’t do it.”

“I first discovered Queen because I grew up in a rural area with dial up internet, so I wasn’t listening to anything over the internet,” Hugh Barrington recalls. “I was going through my parents’ records all the time, and when I found A Night at the Opera I fell in love with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, but if I had to take that out of the mix, my favourite song would be ‘Love of My Life’. I love the live version, where Brian May is playing on the 12 string acoustic guitar – Queen flies into a massive concert on a helicopter – they rock out, and then there’s this moment where it goes very quiet - there’s just Brian May playing on a twelve string, and Freddie singing, and the crowd goes nuts, and sings along in that brilliant way the British just sing along at rock concerts.”

And which songs do ensemble members love to perform?

“There’s a song in the show called ‘Now I’m Here’, sung by Killer Queen,” says Mike, “and we, as the ensemble dancers, are singing and dancing to absolute maximum capacity. We’re throwing our bodies around, thrashing our necks, thrashing our backs, and it’s so amazing, because we’re singing top notes for three counts of eight, while doing intense choreography. If what we feel like on stage is sent out to the audience, then they are going to be in love with the show.”

While the others agree that Mike has nailed it, Sarah adds, “I think also ‘A Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ is the first time we all get to rock it out, and not dance in unison, so everything at the start when we’re gaga people is so tight, and movement’s so strict, but then we all get to be free and be individuals. It’s the best feeling, and my favourite number in the show to dance.”

 

 

We Will Rock You premieres at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre on May 5, ahead of seasons at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane (July); Melbourne’s Regent Theatre (August); Perth’s Crown Theatre (November), then the Festival Theatre, Adelaide (January, 2017).

More

Details of the May / June 2016 Edition of Stage Whispers

Musicals in 2016 and Beyond.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.