Ready to rock in a royal way
BEN Elton’s hit musical We Will Rock You has conquered six continents and has finally made its way to Hobart’s Theatre Royal.
The rock ’n’ roll musical incorporates more than 20 of British band Queen’s biggest hits and is being presented by Tasmanian showman John Xintavelonis..
He said the show includess “massive musical numbers and big laughs” and is “selling like mad”.
Xintavelonis, who has justt returned to Tasmania after performing The Wizard of Oz in Melbourne, had his first rehearsal with the cast on Monday night.
“It looks and sounds amazing,” he said.
“It’s been a steep learning curve with the lines, but it’s what I do for a living.”
Xintavelonis said the 12 show dates were selling out at an incredible rate.
“Usually word of mouth helps them sell out, but this one is purely based on that it’s We Will Rock You and it’s Queen,’’ he said.
“The reason it’s selling this well is because it appeals to the general public who aren’t necessarily music theatre people.”
The script was written by British author and screenplay writer Ben Elton, whose television credits include Blackadder and The Young Ones.
Elton now lives and works in Western Australia and has updated the script of We Will Rock You for the Hobart production.
“I’m very lucky to be playing the role of Buddy, who’s a very funny character,” Xintavelonis said. “The show is very funny and that’s why I think audiences love it.
“Everyone knows the songs and it’s a live rock band in the theatre and they’re playing all those classic hits.”
Songs featured in the show include Killer Queen, Radio Ga Ga, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are the Champions and, of course, We Will Rock You.
The show premieres at Hobart’s Theatre Royal at 8pm next Friday (August 10).
The few remaining tickets are $39, available from theatreroyal.com.au