Istanbul to host ‘We Will Rock You’

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

“We Will Rock You,” the famous London musical depicting the career of the band Queen, will be staged 16 times at the Ülker Sports Arena between May 3 and 12 next year.

The musical made its debut at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End on May 14, 2002 with Tony Vincent, Hannah Jane Fox, Sharon D. Clarke and Kerry Ellis in the principal roles. Although initially panned by critics, it has become an audience favorite and the longest-running musical at the Dominion Theatre, celebrating its 10th anniversary earlier this year.

A number of sold-out international productions on five continents have since followed, with many still active.

According to Brian May, Queen’s manager Jim Beach had spoken with the band about creating a jukebox musical with their songs since the mid-1990s. Initially, the intent was to create the biographical story of Freddie Mercury. Around this time, Robert De Niro’s production company, Tribeca, expressed interest in a Queen musical but found the original idea difficult to work with.

“We Will Rock You” is produced by Queen Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and Tribeca Theatrical Productions. The original London production was directed by Christopher Renshaw with Arlene Phillips as choreographer, Mark Fisher as production designer, Willie Williams as lighting designer, Williams and Fisher as co-video directors, Tim Goodchild as costume designer and Bobby Aitken as sound designer.