We will rock you

St Hilda’s College 2021 production, We Will Rock You, was definitely one to remember! One could even say... it rocked the College’s socks off! Let us tell you a bit about the show.

Set 300 years into the future in a world ravaged by corporate monopoly and controlled by a corporation known as Globalsoft, We Will Rock You follows the tale of a prophecy as old as time itself. The divination foretells that somewhere on the planet, where live music is forbidden, several musical instruments have been hidden from the public eye.

However, as the planet is dictated by the callous Killer Queen and overrun by technology-possessed citizens, the prophecy is near unheard of by its population. Within this realm of authoritarianism, adolescent Galileo Figaro is a non-conformist who wishes to ‘break free’ from his society’s norms. He hears classic rock lyrics in his head, although he doesn’t understand what they mean, and is arrested when he refuses to follow his teacher’s instructions to ignore them. Unbeknownst to him, these librettos would pave the way for him to escape imprisonment and realise his destiny – to fulfil the prophecy and save live rock and roll.

Featuring timeless Queen hits such as Radio Gaga, Another One Bites the Dust and Somebody to Love, this musical tells the story of Galileo’s quest, and the relationships he builds with the likeminded rebels that he meets along the way to finding the power of rock. Unfortunately, a Crazy Little Thing Called Covid got into our way and threw all of our plans out the window. However, the show must go on! And that is exactly what we did, because nothing could Stop us Now! After multiple setbacks, the cast and crew all came together to do a One Night Only performance in the dining hall, with professional lighting, sound, fog machines, filming, photography, costumes, a full set design and choreography. And what a night it was!!

I will always remember the sigh of relief and the overwhelming adrenalin when the videographer and photographer screamed CUT and we knew that we had finally brought this vision to life. We had a beautiful red-carpet event for the premiere screening of the musical, where the college came together to sing, laugh and commemorate the Arts. It was a powerful moment for me, as at that exact moment, we would have been the only people in Victoria celebrating the beauty of live theatre. Congratulate to all involved, the cast, the band, the production team and the convenors. Despite all the odds, we put on We Will Rock You and what a fabulous show it was!

Isabella Reynolds, Cultural Director Dempsey Doyle, cast member