We Will Rock You
★★★★☆ Exuberant
Festival Theatre: Wed 25 – Sat 28 Feb 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
Loud, assertive and extremely accomplished, We Will Rock You, from the Bohemians at the Festival Theatre until Saturday, is thoroughly enjoyable.
The Bohemians were bound to get round to this sooner or later, even if only because in the show the rebels who are seeking to bring down the world-dominating GlobalSoft corporation are actually called ‘the Bohemians’. Who, of course, are looking for their ‘Rhapsody’.
Colin Sutherland (Galileo) and Scaramouche. Pic: Louise Anderbjörk.
Because if you don’t already know, this musical (now available to amateur groups after a long West End run) takes a somewhat literal approach to the songs of Queen. The book (by Ben Elton) features characters called Killer Queen and Galileo Figaro, and the songs tend to be signposted even more than is usual in the genre.
The plot, with the ‘kids’ being kept in their place and denied the power of Rock, is derivative and thin even by jukebox musical standards. Many bands would baulk at having their name attached to a musical where the music of said group is presented as the saviour of future humanity, but even Queen’s greatest fans would struggle to say the band habitually embraced subtlety and nuance.
brash, primary-coloured and unashamedly silly
Which is precisely the point of this. It is brash, primary-coloured and unashamedly silly. The storyline doesn’t even stay true to its own logic, there is little in the way of characterisation and much of the humour is distinctly of the ‘fnarr fnarr’ type. It sets out purely to entertain and largely does just that.
The cast of We Will Rock You. Pic: Louise Anderbjörk.
And there can be no denying the skill, commitment and high production values the Bohemians bring to this. A cast numbering over 70 are marshalled with clarity and precision by director Malcolm J Burnett, with MD Finlay Turnbull in charge of an exceptionally strong onstage band. The choreography of Fiona Burns, meanwhile, is remarkable. Even the huge Festival Theatre stage seems crowded when the full chorus is present, to the extent that possibilities for dancing seem limited, but elegant solutions are always found.
That chorus are wonderfully well drilled, appearing in a variety of guises and appropriate costumes (wardrobe by Mhairi Summers and Elaine Dawson). The ensemble provide sterling support to the principal performers, who are uniformly impressive.
a touching vulnerability
Colin Sutherland adds a touching vulnerability to an expressive voice as the rebel Galileo. His duets with Rebecca Drever as his female counterpart Scaramouche are well judged. Drever also has an individuality and humour that means that the character seems like a real person whose fate you might care about, which isn’t always the case in this show.
Rosie Sugrue’s Killer Queen has a strong presence and even stronger voice, while Max Mitchell is tuneful and funny as her fawningly amoral minion Khashoggi.
Max Mitchell (Khashoggi) and Rosie Sugrue (Killer Queen). Pic: Louise Anderbjörk.
Russell Coid also finds considerable humour as ageing hippy Buddy. Ryan Livingstone has assurance and genuine magnetism as Brit, despite looking disconcertingly like an escapee from Braveheart. Georgia Brennan gives his fellow Bohemian, Oz, a sparkle.
Immense care and time have clearly been put into the technical side of the show. Burnett is also the technical director, and he and Scott Davidson are responsible for the design of the video (operated by Colin Fraser of Catalyst Event Production Services).
judged to perfection
The video content is well chosen and backs up the onstage action very well. The use of a huge screen like this can be overdone and start to overshadow everything else, but here it is judged to perfection.
Davidson is also responsible for the effective lighting design, while the sound (designed by Sam O’Neil of Catalyst EPS) is sharp, generally well-balanced and definitely loud enough for all those Rock-deprived ‘kids’.
Georgia Brennan (Oz) and Ryan Livingstone (Brit). Pic: Louise Anderbjörk.
There is the odd glitch; the sound can become harsh, particularly early on, and the old temptation to shine lights directly into the audience’s eyes just because you can should certainly be resisted.
More seriously, the production never quite overcomes the problems inherent in the material. Characters die or have their brains wiped and it is difficult to care (or sometimes, even notice).
Overall, however, the production has a momentum, coupled with a sense of fun, that means it is impossible to dislike.
Running time: Two hours and 35 minutes (including one interval).
Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicholson Street, EH8 9FT
Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 February 2026
Daily at 7.30 pm; Matinee Sat at 2.30 pm
Tickets and details: Book here.https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/we-will-rock-you/
We will, we will: Rock You! Pic: Louise Anderbjörk.
ENDS
Pic: Louise Anderbjörk
