As The Doha Players prepare to bring the Queen musical We Will Rock You to the stage, we caught up with Director Kristina Cheffins to find out what’s in store.

Hi Kristina, you will be directing the upcoming production of We Will Rock You. For the uninitiated, please explain what a director does.
Ha ha, how much time do you have? Directing is a huge job as you have your fingers in many pies. The director of a production is the leader who has the vision of what the audience will see on stage. He/she orchestrates all the different parts to create a seamless and compelling theatrical experience. It is a tough job because you have to develop a vision for the show, interpret the script, score and lyrics to create a cohesive and engaging production. This involves making decisions about the overall tone, style and concept of the show.
As well as casting and leading rehearsals, the director collaborates with other key creatives, such as the choreographer, musical director, set designer, costume designer and lighting designer, to ensure all elements of the production work together harmoniously.

How did you get involved with this side of the production?
Well, I have been performing in shows for over 30 years and, as a music and drama teacher, I have directed many shows at school. Thanks to my mentor Angela Walton, who has directed countless shows for the Doha Players (DP) and having worked with her so closely for so long, I decided to take the plunge and offer my services to DP. I co-directed the Doha Singers for a short while but I haven’t directed an adult show before, so this is my debut. I was really quite nervous at first but I have an absolutely amazing creative team and the most fabulous cast so they have made my job easy to be honest.

What is We Will Rock You about and what can the audience expect?
Well, that’s an interesting question because the story of the show is a little different, so expect the unexpected! If you like the music of the band Queen, you will love the show. It’s loud, fast paced, exciting, full of energetic choreography, has a lot of songs you’ll recognise sung by a live band and a story that is set in a dystopian future where individuality and live music are banned.
The story follows a young rebel named Galileo and his friend Scaramouche as they fight against the oppressive global corporation, Globalsoft, which controls society through mind-numbing, computer-generated pop music. They join the Bohemians, a group of underground rebels who seek to restore rock and roll. Guided by the mysterious ‘Dreamer’, they search for the fabled ‘Stolen Songs’ to reignite the spirit of freedom and music.
Through their journey, they discover their own identities and the power of rock music to inspire change.

How many actors/musicians will be taking part?
In total we have 37 cast members, including Jennifer the choreographer and myself as we will be making some appearances in the ensemble. We can never resist performing! The cast are super diverse as we have a wide range of nationalities and ages and they are from all walks of life. I have to say the cast are amazing, such a lovely supportive group of people and I feel very privileged to be their director.
The band is quite small as we have just five members at the moment which we hope to expand, but boy can they play! Led by our very talented Musical Director John Drury, who you will see on drums, the band also consists of two keys players, the first also being our Choral Director Julie Chapman, both are also my colleagues at school, two are ex-students from my school, Abigail on keys and Jamie on bass, and then finally a wonderful music teacher from my husband’s school Wael, who is an awesome guitarist.

How easy was it to find enough musicians – anyone our readers would recognise?
It’s never easy to find musicians here in Doha especially for community theatre as you play on a volunteer basis, rather than as a paid job, and it’s a huge commitment, especially when there are 15 shows. However, there are always some who will play simply for the love of music and theatre. As you will notice from my previous answer, the band is mostly people I work with or ex-students. But also, having been in Doha for 16 years, you build up a network of contacts for such things which is always very useful. As for people you may recognise, well Doha is a small community, so there’re bound to be people readers may know who are in the show, but there are also a couple on stage who perform in bands around Doha.

Probably too late for this production but can we tell people how to get involved for the next one?
It’s never too late! Well maybe for being on stage, but we always need backstage crew, help with costumes and sewing or painting and building set and props. We are also still looking for a second guitarist and percussionist, so if there’s anyone out there interested, please get in touch via admin@thedohaplayers.com

How much are tickets and where can they be purchased?
Tickets range from QR40 to QR250 and can be purchased on Q tickets https://events.q-tickets.com/qatar/eventdetails/5954404072/we-will-rock-you-the-queen-musical?utm_source=dpi

Anything else to add?
Just please come and see the show. We have been working hard for the last six months, rehearsing three times a week and would love a full audience to share it with. All the cast, crew, band work full time and do this as a hobby but I think you will be amazed at the quality of the performances. The show is suitable for all ages and will be a great afternoon or evening out. Or come and join us as a member of The Doha Players. It really is a lot of fun and you meet so many new people. Let’s Rock! ✤