Musical inspired by rock group Queen and written by Ben Elton.
The time is the future, in a place that was once called Earth. Globalisation is complete. Everywhere, the kids watch the same movies, wear the same fashions and think the same thoughts. It's a safe, happy, Ga Ga World. "Unless you're a rebel. Unless you want to Rock" On Planet Mall Rock'n'Roll has been banned for centuries. All musical instruments are banned. The materials from which instruments were once made are banned. There is no wood, no steel or gut for strings, no skin for drums, these things are long forgotten. The Company Computers generate the tunes and the kids download then. Nothing is left to chance in the pursuit of profit, hits are scheduled year's in advance. Dance moves are rigidly imposed. "Is this the real life? Is it just fantasy?" It is the age of Boy Bands and Girl Bands. Of Boy and Girl Bands. Of Girl Bands with a couple of boys in them that look like girls anyway. Or Andro Bands, groups of software created sexless cyber stars. All processed. All manufactured. Dancing in the Ether and lulling the kids into a steep that has lasted for centuries. "Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality" But resistance is growing. Underneath the gleaming cities, down in the lower depths live the Bohemians. Rebels believe that there was once a Golden Age when kids formed their own bands and wrote their own songs. The Bohemians dream that one day these lost chores will be heard once more. They call this his day, The Rhapsody. "Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see" Legend persists that somewhere on Planet Mall instruments still exist. Somewhere, the mighty axe of a great and hairy guitar god lies buried deep in rock. Placed there in the golden age against a time when it would be needed to inspire the kids anew. The Bohemians need a hero to find this axe. A crazy rebel with a heart of solid rock who will draw the guitar from the stone and play the ancient anthems.
"He's just a poor boy. From a poor family" But the Bohemians must find this hero before the Company does. For if the Ga Ga Cops get him first they will surely drag him before the Killer Queen and consign him to oblivion across the Seven Seas Of Rhye. Where is this axe hero? Where is the Hairy One's lost axe? Where is the place of living rock?