The Queen and Ben Elton musical ‘”We Will Rock You” returns to the Edinburgh Playhouse from 29th November until 7th January. The show's run kicks off with an Opening Night Gala to raise funds for the Mercury Phoenix Trust featuring a special appearance from Queen legend Brian May. Brian May joins the We Will Rock You cast, including Rhydian Roberts, Noel Sullivan, Leon Lopez, Ian Reddington, Ashley J Russell and Jenny Douglas.
The Gala Event, which tickets are still available for, will also be attended by celebrity supporters of the charity at the Edinburgh Playhouse on World Aids Day. Each year on the 1st December World’s Aids Day takes place and gives people across the globe the opportunity to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.
Speaking about the Opening Night Gala Brian May said: “I am really excited to be taking part in the show in Edinburgh, it’s always so much fun and a fantastic atmosphere and to know that we’ll be raising money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust is the icing on the cake.’
About the Mercury Phoenix Trust
All funds raised on the opening night will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which was founded in 1992 by Brian May and Roger Taylor together with Queen’s manager Jim Beach to help distribute money raised from the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS awareness. Since then, the Trust has raised over $15 million to help in the fight against AIDS worldwide making over 750 grants to charities worldwide. Applications for grants have come in from many countries around the world and collaboration has been realised with groups as far removed as the World Health Organisation to grass-root organisations run partly by voluntary workers in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Nepal and India.