If belting out Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of your lungs still gives you goosebumps, this is one event you’ll want firmly on your calendar. The internationally acclaimed tribute show Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic arrives in Johannesburg from 30 January to 8 February at Joburg Theatre, bringing the legendary band’s greatest hits to life on stage.
As a singer and musician, this is the kind of music most people only dream about performing, and I get to do it all over the world. It's truly a dream come true.
Fresh from sold-out tours across Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the production celebrates a major milestone for Queen fans: 50 years of Bohemian Rhapsody. When the song was first released, its six-minute runtime was considered controversial and wildly unconventional. Queen refused to shorten it – and music history was made. Today, it’s one of the most celebrated songs of all time, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and named the most streamed song of the 20th century.
The show’s arrival in Joburg also follows a renewed global love affair with Queen, sparked by Brian May’s surprise appearance at Coachella earlier this year during a live cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. For long-time fans and a new generation alike, the timing couldn’t be better.
Leading the production is Warren Vernon-Driscoll, a classically trained musician who performs Freddie Mercury’s iconic vocals live, in the original key, while playing piano on stage. A South African native who honed his musical talent at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, Vernon-Driscoll describes Bohemian Rhapsody as “one of the biggest and most iconic songs ever written. As a singer and musician, this is the kind of music most people only dream about performing, and I get to do it all over the world. It’s truly a dream come true.”
Backed by an international band, the show promises a full-scale rock spectacle, delivering Queen’s most loved anthems, including We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now, Another One Bites the Dust, A Kind of Magic and, of course, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Whether you’re planning a night out with friends, a nostalgic date night, or simply looking for a feel-good cultural experience in the city, Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic is a must-see, “real rock extravaganza” on Johannesburg’s entertainment calendar this summer.
Where: Joburg Theatre
When: 30 & 31 January, 1, 6, 7 & 8 February
Tickets: Available via Joburg Theatre box office and online
For more information, visit queenitsakindamagic.com or follow the show on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes moments.
A night of music, memories and pure rock magic awaits.
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