September 14, 2005
By Tshepiso Seopa
PREPARE to be rocked. We Will Rock You, winner of The London Theatregoers' Choice Awards, is coming to Joburg.
The musical, featuring the music of pop group Queen and a script by British writer Ben Elton, opens on 9 May 2006 at the Civic Theatre.
Including 32 of Queen's greatest hits, it took six years of planning at a cost of £7,5-million (about R87,4-million). It has been one of London's top shows since it opened and has broken all house records at the Dominion Theatre, one of the capital's top venues. More than 2,1 million people have seen it.
Scaramouche, played by Hannah Jane Fox in the London production of We Will Rock You
Debbi de Souza, the show's publicist, says, "An all-South African cast will feature in all the shows, which will play in three cities. We have not yet decided on the exact date for preliminary auditions but they will be held in October.
"Follow-up auditions under the watchful eye of an international director and musical supervisor are planned for November. Rehearsals begin in April amid preparations for the show, which is scheduled for the following month."
Producer Hazel Feldman describes We Will Rock You as "a new breed of musical" and points out that "shows such as Chicago and We Will Rock You make it possible for local performers to showcase their talent".
"Combine the finest South African talent with the best musicals in the world and you will have an all-powerful blend on par with or in some cases better than, performances currently in London's West End and on Broadway," Feldman says.
De Souza explains, "The musical presents an extraordinary company of young singers and actors in a futurist adventure set in a time when live music is banned on Earth. The kids are in rebellion, fighting against the all-powerful 'Global Soft Corporation' which controls their lives and feeds them a diet of synthesised pop. A hero is needed who can help them rediscover themselves and live music."
The creative team, comprising a group of South Africans and an international team led by Australian director Andrew Pole and British music supervisor Mike Dixon, will be in charge of the auditions.
The international crew will return for rehearsals in April next year. Thereafter the production will be run by a local team. The local creative and technical teams will be chosen while auditions are being run.
"The tremendous expertise and knowledge brought in by the international team will be invaluable to all South Africans working behind the scenes," De Souza adds.
The musical has retained Arlene Phillips, the choreographer who directed two of lead singer Freddie Mercury's flamboyant videos, Heaven and Born To Do It.
Mark Fisher and Willie Williams, production designers who have created sets for Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and Janet Jackson, are also part of the crew. They have been able to push the design boundaries even further, De Souza says.
After playing in Johannesburg, We Will Rock You will move to Cape Town's Artscape Theatre, followed by a limited season at The Playhouse in Durban.
Shows are scheduled for weekdays and weekends - on Tuesday to Friday at 8pm; on Saturday at 4pm and 8pm; and on Sunday at 2pm and 6pm.
Tickets are available at Computicket. For the Tuesday to Saturday shows the prices are R150, R200, R275 and R350; while tickets for Sunday's shows cost R100, R175, R225 and R300.
The Johannesburg Civic Theatre has a VIP line for group bookings, on 011 877 6853.
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