Queen at the Opera

Queen at the Opera is a musical production by Geoffrey Sutherland (1941-1992) and Andrew Botha.

Though the work is sometimes subtitled We Will Rock You!, it is not to be confused with the 2006 Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You

The original text

A musical production based on the music of British rock band Queen[1], the production was originally conceived by Geoffrey Sutherland and Andrew Botha for performance in Natal.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1990: First staged as Queen at the Opera at the Natal Playhouse by the Playhouse Company, directed and choreographed by Geoffrey Sutherland. Creative director and production designer: Andrew Botha. Musical arrangements by Michael Hankinson and John James.

1995: Staged by CAPAB, Johannesburg Civic Theatre and the Playhouse Company. Performed by Joseph Clark, Sam Marais, Luciano Zuppa, Dina Devine, Selva Hannam, Aviva Pelham, Sally June Gain and André Jaques van der Merwe. Staged by Bryan Hill, with Selva Hannam as assistant choreographer and using the original choreography by Geoffrey Sutherland. Creative director and production designer: Andrew Botha. Sound designer: Robin Shuttleworth. Musical director: Chantel Sanders.

1996/7: A new run, again staged by Bryan Hill, using the original choreography by Geoffrey Sutherland. Creative director and production designer Andrew Botha. Musical arrangements by Michael Hankinson. Musical directors: Janine Neethling and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.