"We Will Rock You young@part" by Erewash Musical Society Youth Group.

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

The story is by Ben Elton and, of course, the music and lyrics by Queen.

"We Will Rock You" tells the story of a globalized future without musical instruments. A handful of rock rebels, the Bohemians, fight against the all-powerful Globalsoft company and its boss, the Killer Queen; they fight for freedom, individuality and the rebirth of the age of rock. Scaramouche and Galileo, two young outsiders, cannot come to terms with the bleak conformist reality.

They join the Bohemians and embark on the search to find the unlimited power of freedom, love and Rock, and of course that magic axe - sorry electric guitar for those who are not au fait with the rock vernacular! This production is the "junior" version so does not contain everything that is in the complete Ben Elton and Queen musical. Even though the "junior" edition only lasts about seventy minutes, you get more than value for money because after the interval, the EMUS put on a mini concert of several Queen songs.

Galileo is the main man in this musical; Galileo Figaro, to give him his full title. If anyone is going to lead The Bohemians to that last, long hidden musical instrument, Galileo will. James O'Boyle plays dreamer Galileo, and I have seen James before, but unsure if I have seen him in a main role. This performance though will ensure that he has gained leading man status. He copes extremely well with the choreography, he gets really into the character of Galileo and feels the part, and his singing is excellent. I did think in parts that he may be better in a lower key. All in all, this character role will be one that I'll remember for a long while.

Scaramouche is Galileo's sidekick, and played by Katie Chamberlain. I loved the sarcasm that is delivered by Katie in this role, and makes a fine leading character. the chemistry between these two is wonderful to watch as they really bounce off each other in all aspects. Oh, and that voice, so powerful and her control is breathtakingly good. Loved the comedy and energy in "Hammer To Fall".

Brit is the "biggest, baddest psycho killer that ever got down funky", and is played by Joel Dawson. Another powerful leading man who can rock out with the best of them, both vocally and acting wise, plus he can also get down funkily!

Oz, who is Brit's partner in crime, is looking to save the world from the restrictions laid down by Globalsoft and to keep "real" music alive. Bethan Moore plays Oz and is another excellent pairing with Joel, both character driven performances.

Killer Queen, who is the Globalsoft leader as well as the iPlanet, and has done everything to make sure that the planet is free of proper musical instruments, so so she thinks, but she didn't quite beat The Bohemians and The Dreamers. A very sassy version of "Another One Bites The Dust" is given by Sky Stacey in this role.

Kashoggi is the leader of the Globalsoft officers, whose only purpose is to rid the iPlanet of proper music, and that includes anyone who tries to stop him from doing his job. Izzy Cole plays Kashoggi with a great sense of style; rocking a white power suit resplendent with black shades, she bosses it out, but there is that boss who overshadows her!

Buddy, who is a former librarian, so has read everything there is to read about real music. He has to escape the Globalsoft police and Kashoggi in order to help Galileo and Scaramouche. Buddy is played by Evan Hagan, who in the "concert" section gave a heartfelt version of "Those Are The Days Of Our Life".

A lovely large ensemble of characters complete the cast. Harry O' Boyle (Bot 1/Sixx), Elis Moore (Bot 2/Michael), Lowri Moore (Gaga Student 1), Jessie Gatehouse (Gaga Stident 2), Lacey Swinburne (Teen Queen 1/John), Livvi Hickiling (Teen Queen 2/Paul), Rosey Malins (Teen Queen 3/ Ringo), Sophie Forman (Teen Queen 4), Eleanor Cooper (Quatro), Grace Sims (Aretha), Yasmin Aldous (Bruce), Sophie Forman (Madonna), Toby Wykes (Jagger), Gabriella Tilley (Puff), Eloise Chamberlain (Soloist) plus Blake Hagan, Jessie Jerram, Kai Hagan and Martha Smart.

What a superb ensemble and when they all sing as an ensemble the power and strength is awesome.

The concert section, as I mentioned was a lovely touch to show off the voices that we may not have noticed throughout the main section, but one young man really blew everyone away with, not only his vocals but with his attitude and cheek singing "Bicycle Race", and I also noticed the change in one phrase of the lyrics, changing the originals to "Long Eaton Girls". Elis Moore you are a cheeky star in the making.

I loved the emotive "The Show Must Go On" and everything else tight up to the closing "Don't Stop Me Now"; the opening lines sung by Rosey Malins, if I'm not mistaken. Not an easy song to open the singing with but Rosey managed wonderfully.

Directed by Richard Dawson, whose idea it was to include a concert section, allowing us to hear some of the ensemble's vocals, and again showcasing the power of the ensemble. On the whole a lovely pacy show and extremely well cast.

Choreographed by James Bowden, well if anyone is going to deliver cracking choreography for this group, it was going to be James; and he did delivered in fine style.

Sound Design by Dave Dallard, and while there were several mis cues a little late, the overall sound was pitched perfectly. You can't have a rock show that is too low in the mix, and this certainly wasn't, I could hear every word.

Lighting Design by Richard Chamberlain, and this was like being at a rock concert because the lighting was excellent and hightened the excitement of the show in a visual treat.

The costumes were really good. Obviously lots of leather jackets and rock chick garb and denims. Plus the glam for Killer Queen and Kashoggi. Spot on for this musical.

Musical Director for this show is Martin Lewis. Another man who, when I see in the programme, I know that there's going to be no worries in this area. The whole band were amazing in replicating the sound of Queen and the rhythm section were out of this world. Tim Yearsley and Chris Renshaw's guitar work ripped through the Duchess Theatre, plus Jeff Widdowson's bass on "Another One Bites The Dust" was just like the original.

So many big Queen hits in this show, "Hammer To Fall", "Somebody To Love", "Love Of My Life", "Breakthru", "Radio Ga Ga", "Under Pressure", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and of course the title track "We Will Rock You".

Queen songs, like Abba songs, are not the easiest to sing, mainly due to the harmonies, but this cast did a cracking good job of this show, and showed anyone who didn't know what brilliant performers they are, just what brilliant performers they are.

"We Will Rock You" is at The Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton until Saturday 4 February.