We Will Rock You heading to Bristol

When I interviewed Ben Elton backstage at London's Dominion Theatre last year, he assured me that the touring version of We Will Rock You, which will be appearing in Bristol in September, would be as big and impressive as the London production.

"There will be a slightly different set on tour, but it will be big," he told me. "You will be getting the full-scale show. In fact, the show you'll be seeing in Bristol will certainly be equal to the London production, and in some ways it will be better because I have made improvements."

This week I headed to Birmingham, where the hit show is currently appearing, to see if the comic-cum-writer's pledge was right. It wasn't...

The show was better. So much so, it was like a different musical.

Based around the songs of legendary band Queen, We Will Rock You is set in the future, during a time where musical instruments have been banned. Computers generate music, and the kids download it, creating an endless cycle of girl and boy bands.

In the depths of the city of Planet Mall, the bohemians reside, focusing on a time when kids made their own music, a golden age – the Rhapsody. How much longer will the bohemians stand for this Ga Ga world? Will they rock again?

"I wanted the show to represent the spirit of the band, and the two things that I identify with Queen are a real sense of humour – a sense of grandiose laughter – and their size. This is a band on a massive, legendary scale," explained Ben.

I have to confess I was less than enamoured when I saw We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre. Despite huge box office returns, the storyline is thin to say the least, some of the jokes were old hat, the set felt swamped in the massive theatre and the cast, while talented, failed to engender any empathy.

However, while the plot is still rather contrived, it really doesn't matter as the touring production has so much more to offer.

Canadian performer (and Ben Stiller lookalike) Alex Gaumond, who plays Galileo, has an outstanding voice and a personality to match, ensuring the audience is kept in the palm of his hand throughout the show.

Former X-Factor finalist Brenda Edwards packs a punch as diva Killer Queen with her strong, Aretha Franklin-esque vocals and natural comic ability, while Robbie Williams' best mate Jonathan Wilkes put in a top performance as her sidekick Khashoggi.

The set, too, looks great – much better suited to the more compact regional theatres.

By the end of the performance in Birmingham, everyone was out of their seats singing and clapping.

So, if you were one of the thousands who saw the show in London and loved it, you're in for an even bigger treat. If, like me, you weren't blown away first time around, I suggest you give this another try. I guarantee you'll be up on your feet by the end of the show.

● We Will Rock You appears at Bristol Hippodrome from Wednesday, September 16, until Saturday, October 31. Tickets cost £21- £40. Call 0844 847 2325.