”We Will Rock You” announces full West End cast – with Ben Elton set to make stage debut

Comedian, writer, and director Ben Elton is set to make his stage acting debut this summer in We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum.

The rock theatrical, written and directed by Elton and featuring the songs of Queen, returns to London after it first opened 21 years ago, for a strictly limited 12-week season from 2 June to 27 August.

“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!” Elton, who takes on the new role of the Rebel Leader said. “My ambition is to nail all the laughs and not mess up my song.”

As already announced, co-starring with Elton at the London Coliseum are Brenda Edwards (Chicago / Hairspray) as Killer Queen, having previously played the role in the UK tour and the record-breaking Dominion Theatre run, and Lee Mead (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang / Wicked) who will play Khashoggi. Olivier award-nominated actor Ian McIntosh and Elena Skye reprise their roles as Galileo Figaro and Scaramouche respectively.

The cast is completed by Christine Allado (The Prince of Egypt) as Meat, Adrian Hansel (Ain’t Misbehavin‘) as Brit and Jenny O’Leary (Heathers) as Alternate Killer Queen.

The cast is completed by Glenn Adamson, Laura Ava-Scott, Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Liam Buckland, David Burilin, Victoria Collins, Isaac Edwards, Leanne Garretty, Lucy Glover, Ryesha Higgs, Ellis Linford-Pill, Shak Mancel James, David McIntosh, Danny Nattrass, Jarryd Nurden, Sam Robinson, Madison Swan, Karen Walker and Rebecca Wickes.

It has been 21 years since We Will Rock You premiered at London’s Dominion Theatre in 2002, where it was seen by six million people over 4600 performances during a 12-year run, becoming one of the most successful musicals in West End history and the longest runner at the Dominion by a margin of nine years.

It also found popularity around the world, playing to a global audience of 20 million across 28 countries.

Tickets are on sale now for the West End run.