Robert de Niro’s first West End musical, We Will Rock You, received an enthusiastic reception when it opened in the British capital on Tuesday night, with the audience cheering and calling for more.
The Raging Bull star, who produced the show, was joined at the premiere by Queen guitarist Brian May, his wife, the former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, Donny Osmond and Little Voice’s Brenda Blethyn.
Ben Elton, the writer behind the £7.5 million production, was also present. We Will Rock You tells the tale of a world 300 years in the future in which musical instruments are banned and pop music is manufactured under strict restrictions.
The show, which was originally conceived as the story of Queen – an idea eventually shelved as being too painful for all involved – features some of the legendary rock outfit’s best-loved hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga and I Want To Break Free.
Brian May said the production, which stars Comic Strip and The Young Ones’ Nigel Planer, was “a dream come true”, even though the outfit’s flamboyant lead singer Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991, was no longer alive to witness its success.
“There’s always sadness looking back, but this is exactly Freddie’s cup of tea. He’ll be chuckling down on us in his usual naughty way.”
Robert De Niro first became interested in the project after meeting the band at the Venice Film Festival over six years ago.
The new musical is just one of a series of high-profile productions to open in the West End recently. Madonna made her debut in Up For Grabs on Monday night, Matt Damon is appearing in This Is Our Youth and Gwyneth Paltrow opens in Proof on Wednesday evening.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
The Taxi Driver star, who first became involved in the project over six years ago, jetted into the British capital for opening night
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Although the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury died in 1991, his former bandmate Brian May says the new show is "exactly Freddie's cup of tea. He'll be chuckling down on us in his usual naughty way".
