It’s a Kind of Magic!!
Fairfax Academy students made audiences go ga-ga with their rockin’ rendition of the Queen musical We Will Rock You.
The cast of talented young actors and student-led band delivered a showstopping performance of Ben Elton’s musical, built around the iconic music of Queen.
Set in a dystopian future where rock music is banned by the wicked Killer Queen, played by Miri Tapper (Year 13), the musical follows the Bohemians, a group of rebellious rockers, in their mission to restore music to the world.
Spencer Dowling (Year 10) and Nicole Bradbury (Year 9) stole the show as leading couple Galileo and Scaramouche, who lead the Bohemians to victory.
With the show being based on a musically complex Queen songbook, Fairfax students proudly took on the challenge head-first and came out the champions.
Head of Music David Ashford said: “We Will Rock You is mainly a rock musical, but the music of Queen has so many elements: it’s orchestral, operatic and layered.
“They’re quite difficult pieces for our band to perform, but giving our students the opportunity to work with such amazing compositions and show off their talent is so important to us.
“The band have risen to the challenge, and our singers have done really well to work with layered vocals and harmonies. It’s been an ambitious production, and we’re so glad it paid off.”
The student cast and band worked overtime to perfect their performances, proving their ability to excel ‘under pressure’.
Months of work behind Fairfax Academy show 2025
Head of Drama Kelly Hunter-Stott said: “We ran auditions just before Easter, and after the Easter break, we began rehearsals. Students dedicated after-school time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – so much effort went into the production.”
And the effort wasn’t limited to the Drama and Music departments, as staff from all around the school chipped in.
Mrs Hunter-Stott said: “We’ve had so much help from staff, including our amazing Harley Davidson prop made by the Design Technology department!”
Mr Ashford added: “Our bass and guitar tutors have lent so much support to our student band, and we’ve had support from maths teacher Miss Paris too.
“Every department has been involved in some way, it’s been such a team effort. Creativity at Fairfax is supported by everyone in our community. It’s such an important part of school our culture.”
Mrs Hunter-Stott said: “Going into performance night, I wanted the audience to look forward to amazing singing and dancing, and a night of great fun. We wanted everyone to rock!
“I could tell the audience were as proud of our talented students as I am – our entire cast and ensemble have done so well.”
Principal Sean Castle said: “Once again Fairfax’s students have gone above and beyond to deliver two brilliant nights of shows, taking on a very demanding production and delivering great performances after months of hard work.”
