“What I love most about performing is being up on stage with all your mates, having a great time and hopefully getting that across to the audience too,” says Dale Barrell, star of BATS’ production of We Will Rock You.
Dale Barrell stars as Galileo
“Then at the end you can look back and say we did it! We got through it! And it’s all about working together as part of a team.”
After making his BATS debut in Come From Away last year, Dale’s now loving playing the lead role of Galileo in the musical that features all the best loved songs of Freddie Mercury and Queen, anchored to a witty script by comedian Ben Elton.
Set in a dystopian future where live music is banned by the tyrannical Globalsoft Corporation, We Will Rock You follows rebels Galileo and Scaramouche as they fight to restore rock 'n' roll to its rightful place!
“It’s a privilege to perform all of Queen’s iconic songs - but really tough to choose a favourite,” says Dale. “Who Wants to Live Forever is a beautiful number, but I also love the big anthems like We Are The Champions. Hopefully audiences will be waving their arms and singing along to that one!”
Dale got the performing bug in local pantomimes where he also turned his hand to writing, directing and choreography. He later joined CODY musical theatre company and has just finished a run in their production of We Will Rock You in Aldershot.
Surely it’s been confusing rehearsing two separate versions of the same show?
“Fortunately not!” laughs Dale. “I played another role in the CODY show, and their version was a different interpretation to BATS. There wasn’t too much of an overlap!”
Now Dale’s fully focussed on bringing Galileo to life. He hopes audiences seeing We Will Rock You for the first time - and hearing the songs performed by a live band - will have the same reaction he experienced when he saw the original production at London’s Dominion Theatre.
“I was blown away by the music, the sound, everything! It was like a rock concert with a story. I absolutely loved it!”
See Dale in We Will Rock You at the Haymarket, Basingstoke from 12-16 May 2026. View show information and book tickets.