IAN CLARKE Northgate High School, Dereham

IAN CLARKE

Northgate High School, Dereham

You can understand why Ben Elton and Queen are fussy about who is allowed to stage adaptations of their hit musical We Will Rock You.

But Elton, the surviving trio of one of the most influential bands of our time and, indeed, the legendary late, great Freddie Mercury himself would have had no regrets about letting Dereham's Northgate High put on the production if they had seen last night's superb opening performance.

During the two-hour new adaptation of the futuristic spectacular, members of the audience had to remind themselves they were in a school hall in Norfolk and not in a theatre in the capital.

The stunning sound and lights, the superb direction and choreography, the amazing music and, above all, the talent, enthusiasm and energy of the 120-strong young cast were awesome.

The story is set 300 years into the future and follows the battle of the Bohemians - inspired by Galileo and Scaramouche - to break free from the shackles of the Globalsoft empire which has killed rock and roll.

Northgate's willingness to show the bold ambition to push the barriers and break free from the modern constraints of education conformity mirrors the spirit oozing from the musical.

The show - set to tour Europe - gives the stars the chance to experience the amazing opportunities the stage offers.

It would be unfair to single out individuals as they were all a kind of magic.

And don't stop them now - they truly are the champions!

t The show continues until Saturday, March 3. Call 01362 697033.