These are the show running times for We Will Rock You. These timings are supplied to us by the promoter of the show and are intended as a guide only and are subject to change:
Doors Open - 1hour before performance starts*
Act I - 1 hr 20 mins
Interval - 20 mins
Act II - 1hr 10 mins
*The Arena is closed and has no food/drink or toilet facilities available until the published Doors Open time.
For more information on how to get to the Arena, our parking facilities and public transport information please click here.
Following the triumphant 2010 and 2011 UK theatre tours, the smash hit Queen and Ben Elton musical, ‘We Will Rock You’ announces the show will embark on its first ever world arena tour, stopping off at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield from 30th May – 2nd June 2013.
Former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy and X Factor finalist and West End actress Brenda Edwards are to star in the first ever We Will Rock You Arena Tour, following their previous success in the roles.
Kevin Kennedy, best known for his role as ‘Curly Watts’ in the long running soap Coronation Street, will reprise the role of ‘Pop’, a librarian who is stuck in his ‘hippie’ past and is searching to find answers to the end of rock music.
Brenda Edwards who rose to fame in ITV1’s talent show ‘The X Factor’ will again play the domineering role of ‘Killer Queen’, Head of Globalsoft, the corporation responsible for the banning of all instruments and musical originality.
Kevin and Brenda are currently starring in the West End production at the Dominion Theatre and will join the UK leg of the world tour to perform in Nottingham, Sheffield and Newcastle. They will be joined by MiG Ayesa (Rock of Ages, Thriller Live) who will be reprising the role of ‘Galileo’ after successful international and West End runs since 2005 and Lucie Jones, who shot to fame as an X Factor finalist in 2009 and went on to perform in Les Miserables will perform the role of Meat.
Speaking about the tour, Kevin Kennedy said:
“I’m so excited to return to the We Will Rock You Tour, especially to be a part of the first ever Arena Tour, rocking out to thousands of fans every night. It’s going to be huge!”
Brenda Edwards is equally thrilled:
“I love performing as Killer Queen and can’t wait to take We Will Rock You back on the road!”
Lauren Samuels will return to the role of Scaramouche after her run at the Dominion in 2011/2012. Khashoggi will be played by Sean Kingsley who has appeared in Les Miserables, Cats, and Billy Elliot.
With 24 of Queen’s biggest hits delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked the bands’ legendary live performances, this will be one of the most spectacular musicals to tour the world.
On announcing the Arena tour, Queen’s Brian May said:
“After our first 10 years in Rock Theatricality, this is the next giant step for WWRY - and the show will feature a brand new arena-size design - a big night out for all!”
The last WWRY UK tour visited six cities across 13 months. The tour sold over half a million tickets, setting and smashing box office records and was crowned the UK’s favourite show at the prestigious Olivier awards. The London production of the show has just celebrated its 10th birthday and it is the longest running musical ever staged at the West End’s Dominion Theatre, booking until October 2012. The show has thrilled over seven million people in the UK, and close on 15 million people in 17 countries worldwide.
The production is directed by Ben Elton, with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors, Arlene Phillips oversees the musical staging and choreography.
Writer Ben Elton has fashioned a hilarious futuristic comedy around more than 24 of Queen’s biggest hit songs delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked Queen’s live performances.
Ben Says:
“This show is all about legend, We take the legend of Queen and create our own fantastical story of young kids battling the might corporations who want to suppress their individuality and their love of music. They need a hero who can help them in their struggle, and we have two – the dreamer Galileo and the sassy rock chick Scaramouche. Guess who ends up winning?”
Brian May adds:
“The amazing bonus is that Ben's script subtly works as a metaphor too. People definitely come out of the theatre feeling that in a strange way they now know us, Queen, and our struggle, our journey.”
Says producer Phil McIntyre:
“We are looking forward to taking this true Rock Theatrical out on the road again. We had standing ovations night after night around the UK last time and we can’t wait to see that happen again.”
The touring production reaches worldwide arenas carrying with it an impressive legacy: when it first became news that one of Britain’s most phenomenally successful comedy writers Ben Elton was teaming up with legends of rock, Queen, for a musical there was much speculation on what such a unique collaboration would turn out. So impressed after attending the original workshop, screen icon Robert De Niro and his company Tribeca came on board as American partners. De Niro continues to support the show, even making a special visit to London in May this year to help celebrate the 10th anniversary in style. The audience erupted with thunderous applause, as he joined the cast on stage after the landmark performance.
‘ONE DREAM, ONE VISION, ONE SMASH HIT!'
Tickets for We Will Rock You at Motorpoint Arena on 30th May - 2nd June are available online at Sheffield Box Office, through the ticket hotline on 0114 256 56 56 or in person at the Arena Box Office.
