Ptarmigan Ptheatrics kicks off a two-week run of Queen-inspired musical We Will Rock You at Yellowknife’s Northern Arts and Cultural Centre on Thursday.
The show, directed by Eli Purchase, is driven by hit Queen songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen and We Are the Champions.
It follows two revolutionaries trying to save rock ‘n’ roll in a post-apocalyptic world.
Ptarmigan Ptheatrics, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, billed We Will Rock You as a “musical for our time: a fist-pumping, foot-stomping anthem to individuality … in an age where algorithms predict our every preference.”
“It’s prescient,” said Mornings at the Cabin’s Jesse Wheeler, who plays secret police boss Commander Khashoggi in the show.
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“There are overtones of authoritarian governments and brainwashing and all those types of things. I think that speaks to some of how social media, computers and screens have kind-of taken over, and that’s what’s going on in this.”
The show runs from April 24-27 and April 30-May 3. Tickets are available on the NACC website.
“The energy of the Queen songs paired with our community’s enthusiasm is going to create something truly unforgettable,” Purchase was quoted as saying.
Last year’s Yellowknife musical staged by Ptarmigan Ptheatrics was 9 to 5, adapted from the comedy film of the same name.
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We Will Rock You is led by Thaesha Buckley and Terrence Leopoldo playing freedom fighters Scaramouche and Galileo Figaro respectively.
“Thaesha and I have been meeting up just to get extra practice outside of rehearsals, making sure we sound great and we know our lines, we know a little bit of movement before Eli gives us a bit more direction,” Leopoldo told Mornings at the Cabin on Tuesday.
Listen to more on the Mornings at the Cabin podcast.
“It’s a lot of work but it’s still really fun – I’ve been playing the soundtrack while I’m working out to get a little bit more familiarity with the music,” Leopoldo said.
“I’ve been in theatre for about nine years but this is the biggest part I’ve had before,” said Buckley.
“Terrence and I didn’t know each other before this production. Getting to know each other, figuring out how our characters interact with each other has been a really, really fun process.”
