This weekend, Bengaluru based group to perform musical featuring songs of Queen

This weekend, a Bengaluru-based group, will stage a popular jukebox musical featuring the songs of British rock band Queen. Titled ‘We will rock you’, the two-hour show is directed by Leila Alvares, who has been presenting musicals through her non-profit, Cause Foundation, for the last 28 years.

“To be honest, this musical was not my first choice. However, some of the actors I have been working with over the years are fans of the British band. I thought it would be a good way to appeal to the younger audience through their music,” says Leila. 

The play is a departure from the classics that Leila usually picks for her annual productions. Previously, she has presented musicals such as ‘Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat’, ‘Fiddler on the roof’, ‘The Addams family’, ‘Grease’ and ‘My fair lady’. ‘We will rock you’ is a more recent play — the original West End production was first staged in 2002 and wrapped up in 2014. It briefly returned to the West End stage in 2023. The original is expected to make a comeback in 2026, so licences will not be given out from next year. “We thought it was the best time to present it here,” she shares.

The story is set 300 years in the future in an Orwellian society, where there is tight control over free speech, individuality and differences. The concept of rock music simply does not exist. When a rebel group called the Bohemians begins to resist control, the ruling corporation does its best to clamp down on them. The scenes will be brought alive through LED projections featuring hand-painted settings.

Around 20 of Queen’s most popular songs — from ‘Another one bites the dust’ and ‘Killer queen’ to ‘We will rock you’ and ‘We are the champions’ will be performed. Most of the songs have been shortened to cut down on time, while some, like ‘Another one bites the dust’ will be presented in their original length. The cast, featuring Rahael Thomas, Samiksha Chawla, Deepa Jacob, Kieren Alvares Lynn and Prem Koshy, will be accompanied by a live band led by Aashish Paul. 

August 30, 7.15 pm, and August 31, 11.15 am and 7.15 pm, at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Vyalikaval. September 6, 7.15 pm at MLR Convention Centre, Whitefield. Tickets online.