Flanked by flamboyant frontman Adam Lambert, rock legends Queen have just played two sold out nights in our city, but if you’re eager to hear more, then look no further than Birmingham Hippodrome.

For the popular juke-box musical We Will Rock You, which features all the best loved hits of the iconic record-breaking band, is taking centre stage at the Southside theatre for a whole month.

20 years after its debut - this thrilling show, which includes hit after breath-taking hit, definitely still packs a punch.

Comedy writer Ben Elton worked closely with veteran musicians Brian May and Roger Taylor when he first wrote We Will Rock You, and the production still carries their stamp of approval.

The musical is set in the dystopian future of iPlanet, where musical instruments have been banned and a scary dictator called Killer Queen rules. It's up to Galileo and Scaramouche to find the sacred instrument and release the rhapsody. 

Arguably a ridiculous plot, but one purely written around the plethora of rock anthems that we all know and love and have become part of the cultural fabric of British life.

It's a strange concept and the script isn't amazing, but once you embrace this and buckle yourself in for the ride, it’s an evening of stellar entertainment performed by a first-class cast, and tremendous backing band.

Ian Macintosh brings a ragged, raw energy to the role of Galileo and has an impressive vocal range that would no doubt rival that of the late Freddie Mercury.

Elena Skye is perfect as Scaramouche, bringing heaps of sass and charisma as she delivers a host of witty and cutting one-liners. 

Arguably the biggest star of the show is the music. Is there even a better songbook for a musical than that of Queen? Probably not. For that reason, I would have loved to have seen a lot more of the amazing live band who are onstage for the whole performance but hidden for the majority. 

Now let’s be clear, if you aren’t a Queen fan, you probably aren’t going to have too much love for the show.
But for anyone who didn’t see them on their latest tour, or still has the post-concert blues since Roger and Brian left Brum, then We Will Rock You still has ‘a kind of magic’.

Four stars.

Reviewed by Fiona McCartney at Birmingham Hippodrome on Monday 4 July. We Will Rock You continues to show at the theatre until Saturday 30 July.