We Will Rock you is having its moment in amateur theatre and as someone who is directing one of these productions I was excited to get to see what another amateur company is doing with this show. The show itself is set in the future, where music is banned and living life online is the status quo. This is until a group of bohemians meet Galileo and he discovers that his dreams may provide the answers that they have been seeking and lead them to their rhapsody, all set to a backdrop of Queen music.

Even as a fan of the show I would be lying if I said that the script didn’t have limitations with some dated jokes and some strange scene placements however what Cygnet Players have really succeeded in doing in their production is pulling out all of the humour. It was telling that I heard more laughs than groans at the jokes and testament to a cast that threw themselves into the roles and a director who made sure that this show was as out there as possible. I also adored the fact that Cygnet players, under the direction of Jon Haines and AD of Tasha Saxby-Claire didn’t try to make this a replica production of the West End and there were plenty of moments that the creative team put their own spin on in, the staging of Seven Seas of Rhye was one of these standout moments.

Script aside, realistically this is a show that people are drawn to for the music and Cygnet Players did a great job on this all round, the band led by MD Manon Sheard sounded rocky and tight, the harmonies were well polished and sound design by Adam Coppard was crisp. As a result we were able to enjoy Queen hit after Queen hit, from Fat Bottom Girls to We Are The Champions.

The enjoyment was enhanced by strong principals. Toby Chapman as Galileo lead the cast and not only did his vocals keep up the huge demands of this show but his portrayal of this slightly awkward dreamer was incredibly strong, unafraid to simply go for the sillier moments and as a result able to carry the show. Alongside him was Frankie Finch as Scaramouche who had the perfect blend of girl power vibes with a hint of vulnerability allowed to shine through on occasion. They worked well together as the shows leading couple and ensured that the show always felt like it was in safe hands. Equally Harriet Ruby as Killer Queen had a wonderful command of the stage, vital for her role and fronted several of the huge Queen numbers with sass and sex appeal.

One of the stand out things about the show was the technical side of it. Huge video screens flanked either side of the stage as well as columns across the back of the set and it showed a mixture of cleverly designed graphics in keeping with the show along with some moments that were broadcast live. This fit in brilliantly with the futuristic side of the show and also moments where the band were depicted on screen helped the themes of live music really shine through. The video design by Adrian Jeakins was brilliantly considered and incredibly advanced, especially considering just how long amateur shows have to tech a production in situ. The lighting design by Ben Sassoon was also a huge part of the show and everything from the laser cage to the mood lighting was executed flawlessly. The set design was well balanced between creating a fitting placement for each scene balanced with not taking inordinate lengths of time for set changes. Highlights included the banks of old style TVs in the Heartbreak Hotel through to the simple but effective metal fencing in the wasteland.

The choreography by Lauren Price was well executed and the show started incredibly strongly with a well drilled Radio Gaga with formations and synchronised moment the fitting flavour of the song. There were moments where dancers were added to songs that are typically staged with just the principals on stage. At times this did distract from the principals character development and wasn’t really needed in light of just how much dance there is elsewhere in the show already.

Ultimately Cygnet Players have embraced the spirit of We Will Rock You rather than being constrained by its weaknesses. By leaning into the humour, delivering the music with confident and investing heavily in technical design they have created a production that feels bold and unapologetically theatrical. This is amateur theatre operating with real scale and imagination and, most importantly operating with joyous commitment that makes a show like this truly rock.

We Will Rock You is on at John McIntosh Arts Theatre, London Oratory School until Saturday 21st February. You can find out more and book tickets here.

If you like this review of We Will Rock You you might also like my review of Pippin and Sweeney Todd, also by Cygnet Players.