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'I auditioned in front of Queen' says We Will Rock You star

Cast of We Will Rock You 
(Picture: Johan Persson)
Cast of We Will Rock You (Picture: Johan Persson)

MICHAEL McKell knows a thing or two about being in a successful show so when he tells you that We Will Rock You is unlike any other, you really should take notice.

Michael plays Cliff in the riotous, high-energy musical which features the songs of Queen and which opens in Manchester on Monday.

“It is an incredible show,” he said. “Much of that success is down to the people behind it. It’s written by Ben Elton who has had comedy hits across four decades and then you have the work of Queen - that’s such a canon of songs.

“We manage to cram 24 songs into the show and yet that still doesn’t include every hit.”

Michael has had a highly successful career. He played Dr Nick West in the daytime soap Doctors and DC Nick Henshall in Emmerdale. He also featured in two series of the ITV drama Murder Investigation Team and in the BBC series Blessed.

On the stage he has been in Blood Brothers and Tonight’s the Night.

WE WILL ROCK YOU by Elton, , Book by Ben Elton, Music & Lyrics by Queen, Directed by Cornelus Baltus, Michael McKell in We Will Rock You (Picture: Johan Persson)

What makes We Will Rock You different, Michael believes, is the reaction it provokes - both from the audience and the cast.

“There is such a wave of affection that comes back from the audience,” he said. “You can really feel it on stage.

“There’s also a new demographic sitting out there now. I think a lot of people during the pandemic discovered Bohemian Rhapsody the movie so there is a younger wave of audience out there.

“Great music remains great music and this show is packed full of it.”

The current tour is celebrating the 20th anniversary of We Will Rock You and Michael’s part has been written into the show for the anniversary tour.

“I’d worked with Ben on Tonight’s the Night and Blessed,” said Michael. “Cliff is a combination of Pop for those who may have seen the show before, who is effectively the narrator, and another character. Ben named him after Sir Cliff Richard.”

During the show, Michael’s character gets to sing These Are The Days of Our Lives.

Brian May (Picture: Rankin)
Brian May (Picture: Rankin)

Brian May (Picture: Rankin)

“Can you imagine my audition,” he said. “I’m there in front of Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen and their manager Jim Beach. Roger actually wrote the song about his friend - it was Freddie Mercury’s last pop promo.

“They shot it in black and white when he was very ill. It is such a heartbreaking performance and there was I having to sing it in front of the writers - you have a responsibility to do the work justice.”

Brian May and Roger Taylor have been very hands-on as far as We Will Rock You goes - Brian May has been known to make a guest appearance on stage to play guitar on Bohemian Rhapsody.

“I got my first record deal when I was 19,” said Michael, “and I wrote songs for Toyah and Paul Carrack and others. Part of the education of being a young musician was going to see people live.

Roger Taylor (Picture: Rankin)
Roger Taylor (Picture: Rankin)

Roger Taylor (Picture: Rankin)

“I saw Queen five times back then. The last time was at the Empire Pool Wembley as it was called four days after John Lennon had been shot. Freddie sang Imagine and I’ve never seen so many people crying at a gig.

“Fast forward to the opening night of the We Will Rock You tour in Portsmouth and Brian came out on stage. The last time I’d seen him play live was almost 40 years earlier and yet there was this emotional connection again.”

Although 20 years old, Michael believes We Will Rock You has more resonance than ever.

“The opening monologue is ‘in a time set in the future, when crowds can no longer gather, when live music is no longer played and music is only online’ – that’s like the strangest prediction ever given what we’ve all been through with the pandemic.

“I’ve asked Ben if he can give me the winning lottery numbers so we can all retire,” he laughed.

We Will Rock You is the story of two kids who dare to be different at a time when individuality is being suppressed and who go on a quest to find a lost musical instrument.

Michael is very much the elder statesman of the cast and he confesses he likes being a father figure.

Cast of We Will Rock You (Picture: Johan Persson)
Cast of We Will Rock You (Picture: Johan Persson)

Cast of We Will Rock You (Picture: Johan Persson)

“I’ve got three kids of my own who are 24, 25 and 26 so it’s very much in my nature anyway,” he said. “But I believe part of your job as an older actor is to nurture young talent.

“The biggest piece of advice I can give to the kids is just turn up and be present; nothing happens by doing nothing.It’s your dream and no-one else’s and it’s your responsibility to try and make it happen.”

Even after having achieved so much, We Will Rock You is clearly very special to Michael.

“To be in this show at 63 with a voice and a platform and to share it with some of the best singers I have ever worked and with a fantastic band - it’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve been in hit shows but nothing comes with this love affection and joy. One thing you never notice when you’re younger is when you’re in the sunshine. I tell the kids ‘you are in the sunshine; you will never be in a show like We Will Rock You again’.”

We Will Rock You, Palace Theatre, Manchester, September 5 to September 10. Details from www.atgtickets.com