Thunderous guitars, shrill costumes, big emotions: The Queen musical “We Will Rock You” returns to Stuttgart after 15 years—in a completely new form. On Friday the production celebrates its premiere at the Stage Palladium Theater. Admittedly: it isn’t entirely new. And sure, it might be cheaper to hear the band’s hits on the radio or at a 70s or 80s party than paying a ticket price that can reach the triple digits. Still, there are good reasons why a visit to the Queen show in the capital city is worth it. Here are five of them:
The iconic music
Queen is regarded as one of the best and most successful rock bands in the world. With their blend of rock, opera, pop, and theatrical flair, the musicians around the flamboyant singer Freddie Mercury have thrilled generations of fans worldwide. Hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We Are the Champions,” or “We Will Rock You” have long since become epic anthems. Of course: Queen is iconic. And members of the band also contributed to the development of the musical.
The offbeat story
Unlike the Oscar-winning film “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the show doesn’t tell the band’s history. In the musical, the setting is a futuristic-dour world where creativity and rock music are banned. The youth are oppressed by computer-generated uniform pop. Instruments are banned. In the background the tyrannical corporation Globalsoft, with the “Killer Queen” at the top, pulls the strings. The young hero Galileo, a dreamer, refuses to accept the manufactured reality. He declares war on the system—and forms a band. The story is a hybrid of rock-show spectacle and an epic tale about individuality, rebellion, and love.
The new production
The Queen show isn’t exactly new; it first opened in London in 2002. According to Stage Entertainment, 16 million people in 19 countries have seen “We Will Rock You.” Stuttgart has hosted the musical before—as a run from 2008 to 2010. Yet a fresh visit is likely to surprise fans: the material has now been completely redesigned, with a new script, new choreography, and a younger cast.
Direct link | Trailer for the musical
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For the 32 performers, Stage says 120 wigs are prepared. Even the wig for the “Killer Queen” took 80 hours to complete. In addition, 60 different lipsticks, 300 brushes, and several-toned LED walls are used. The rock anthems, however, remain the familiar ones—even though, unlike in the past, they will all be sung in English, the company states.
The storied guitar
Upcoming premiere guests include a very special attendee: Queen guitarist Brian May plans to watch the piece in person at Stuttgart’s Stage Palladium Theater. In the 1960s May built a guitar—using woods he found in his cellar or attic—his legendary “Red Special.” The sound of that guitar is famously distinctive, musicians say. May has provided the musical team with copies of his “Red Special,” faithfully reproduced from his 1960s work.
The audience-involvement factor
This is certainly not a musical to lean back for. The show evolves into a rock concert as the plot unfolds. With songs like “Radio Ga Ga” and “Don’t Stop Me Now,” the theater audience is likely to become a singing chorus. “Thanks to the worldwide hits, the audience is energized in a totally different way,” Stage notes. All songs are performed by a live band. The band isn’t tucked away in the orchestra pit as usual but sits on a wall on the stage, where it can be raised and lowered. Twenty-four Queen songs are on the program—and they provide a near three-hour energy boost.
