Storming into its tenth year as one of the West End's most successful shows, Queen & Ben Elton's We Will Rock You has announced that one of the UK's most loved and best recognised actors, Kevin Kennedy will join the new cast starting on September 6th.
Kevin, best known for his role of Curly Watts in TV's Coronation Street, which he held for twenty years between 1983 - 2003 appearing in 334 episodes, will take on the part of Pop, the ‘hippie' who alone knows the secrets of the ‘hidden rock' and will take any measures to keep them concealed.
Kevin comes to London following his triumph in the same role in last year's touring production of the musical, which set new audience records throughout the UK.
The Combined audience figures for We Will Rock You on tour and in London established the show as the most successful musical of last year.
Joining Kevin in the new cast will be former X-Factor star Brenda Edwards. Brenda, who shared the stage with Kennedy for the UK tour with huge success, joined the London cast earlier this month for a limited season stepping in for Mazz Murray, the show's long-time sensational Killer Queen who is off on maternity leave. From September 20th, after taking two weeks out to appear in the Young Vic production Human Comedy, Brenda will rejoin the London show as full-time Killer Queen until Mazz Murray's return. In Brenda's absence the role of Killer Queen will be covered by Lucy Tapp and Tricia Adele-Turner.
The 2010 - 2011 cast also sees the welcome return of renowned actor/singer Ricardo Afonso to the leading role of the break-away rebel and dreamer Galileo. Ricardo previously played Galileo from 2007 - 2009, and led the WWRY cast in the Olympic hand-over concert last year, before a departure to take on a succession of touring concerts and shows.
Newly cast opposite Ricardo in the second leading role of Scaramouche, the lippy chick who finally leads Galileo to become a champion, is Sarah French. Sarah, having achieved great success covering the role of Scaramouche at London's Dominion, was last year offered the female lead in the touring production, in which she delighted the provinces. Sarah's journey with WWRY comes around full circle as she moves into the leading female role in the West End.
The role of Meat, the rock chick with a killer voice and an attitude to match, will be played by Rachel John. Rachel will take up the role November 1. Rachel's recent West End roles have included ensemble and covers in both Sister Act and The Lion King. Her casting marks her first West End leading role. Prior to Rachel's arrival, the role of Meat will continue to be played until October 2 by Amanda Coutts who presently holds the part. Lauren Varnham will then cover until October 30.
Sure to please the show's legions of regular visitors, two of its most popular actors will continue in their roles: Alex Bourne stays on as Killer Queen's perfect foil and fellow villain, the silver-tongued, Armani-suited Khashoggi. Alex was first cast in the role in April 2005. Ian Carlyle will continue to show his muscle as the ‘bad-ass' Britney, who despite his tough exterior, will do anything for the love of his baby, Meat.
With over 3000 performances behind it, and holding the record for the longest running show ever at the Dominion, We Will Rock You continues to show great strength as it heads for its tenth year in London, a landmark it will reach next spring. Bookings are now being taken through to April 2011.
The show will begin a second UK tour this December, opening in Manchester, and rolling out around the country throughout the year. Concurrently, foreign language productions are set to open across Europe in the Netherlands, Sweden and Berlin, Germany.
WE WILL ROCK YOU is a Queen Theatrical Productions/Phil Mcintyre Entertainment/Tribeca production.
We Will Rock You 2010 - 2011 Cast:
Galileo - Ricardo Afonso
Ricardo returns to the role of Galileo having spent a year away in which he undertook a series of concert and show dates including A Night of a Thousand voices at the Royal Albert Hall, the Queen concerts with the English National Orchestra and as principal singer in Abba Tribute in Portugal. He has also contributed to many well-loved feature films and animations including singing numbers as Robin Hood in Shrek and main title songs for Beauty and the Beast and Duck Tales.
