TICKETS went on sale today for the smash-hit musical We Will Rock You.

The much-anticipated show, written by Ben Elton and based on the music of legendary rock band Queen, will appear at the Bristol Hippodrome in September next year as part of the show's first UK tour.

Since opening at the West End's Dominion Theatre in 2002, almost four million tickets have been sold for 2,300 performances, grossing more than £100 million at the box office.

It has also been shown all around the world, from Tokyo to Toronto and Melbourne to Madrid, and swept the board at the 2003 Theatregoers' Choice Awards, picking up five gongs and the award for best new musical.

The story is set on earth 300 years into the future. Everyone wears the same clothes, watches the same films and thinks the same thoughts.

Music is also generated by one company and musical instruments are banned. But resistance comes in the form of a man called Galileo, a hero who will help the world break free.

The show packs in 24 of Queen's biggest hits, including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions and I Want To Break Free.

It also features a number of dance routines, choreographed by Arlene Phillips, a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

Ms Phillips said: "It's spectacular and it will be as big and bold a production when it hits Bristol as it is at the Dominion Theatre.

"The show is kept fresh because you've got someone like Ben leading – he is so involved and he's always making changes, working on it and making sure that every new cast is as good as that first opening night."

Arlene first came to the attention of the British public when she created dance group Hot Gossip.

Since then her choreography has been seen in theatre, feature films, concert arenas, television, music videos and commercials.

Arlene has been involved in some of the biggest stage musicals of the past two decades, including Starlight Express, Grease and Saturday Night Fever.

She said: "Compared to the other shows I've done, the audiences at We Will Rock You are without doubt the loudest and most enthusiastic audiences I've ever seen or heard.

"We Will Rock You is a show that embraces the audience and vice versa. The audience feels part of the experience, which I think is why we haven't had a show where there hasn't been a standing ovation.

"They want to get on their feet and be part of the show.

"I'm sure that the audiences in Bristol will absolutely love it."

Gary Roden, the general manager of the Hippodrome – which has featured musicals such as Mamma Mia, Evita and Dr Dolittle already this year – urges theatre-goers to move fast to book their tickets.

Some 900 Evening Post readers have already taken advantage of the chance to book up tickets early.

Mr Roden said: "We Will Rock You has been a phenomenal success in London and has been seen by over six million people worldwide.

"We have no doubt whatsoever that the show will be a sell-out success story for the Hippodrome.

"This is one of the shows that the people of Bristol have been asking to land on their doorstep, and we are only too happy to oblige.

"It will be the hot ticket for 2009, and I would urge people to snap up tickets sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment."

The show will run from September 16 to October 31 2009.

Evening performances will start at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm, except September 16, 2009.

Tickets go on sale at 10am today and cost between £21 and £40, with concessions available, excluding Saturdays. Call 0844 847 2325.