In his own hit musical, We Will Rock You

Ben Elton will make his stage acting debut this summer, starring in his own musical We Will Rock You.

The 63-year-old will play the role of the Rebel Leader in the West End show, based on the songs of Queen.

Elton said: ‘The character is a massive Queen fan, rock tragic and general old fart who still plays air guitar to his bedroom mirror - so basically I’m perfect for the role. My ambition is to nail all the laughs and not mess up my song.’

It is returning to London 21 years after it first hit the West End – and nine years after its run ended. The  12-week season will be at the London Coliseum from June 2 to August 27.

Co-starring with the comic, who also directs the show , are Brenda Edwards, reprising the role of Killer Queen she played on the UK tour and in theWest End. and Lee Mead – whose credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Wicked – who will play Khashoggi.

We Will Rock You premiered at London’s in 2002 and was seen by six million people over 4,600 performances in the   12-year run at the Dominion Theatre. Worldwide it has played to  20 million  people across 28 countries.

Elton’s script is set in a future without musical instruments in which a handful of rock rebels, the Bohemians, fight against the all-powerful Globalsoft company and its boss, the Killer Queen.

Ticket for the show are available here.

Published: 12 Apr 2023