De Niro stars at Queen show’s premiere

Hollywood star Robert De Niro made a surprise appearance at the world premiere tonight of the new Queen Musical We Will Rock You.

The Taxi Driver star was flanked by band members Brian May and Roger Taylor and comedian Ben Elton, who wrote the show, as they arrived at London’s Dominion Theatre.

But De Niro, who has backed the £7.5m production, was his usual taciturn self, and when asked what he was looking forward to this evening he merely muttered: ‘‘The whole thing.’’

The opening night of the futuristic musical attracted a glittering array of stars including TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson and actresses Amanda Holden and Claire Sweeney.

Brian May, Queen’s guitarist, joked that he expected the show to run for 20 years.

May, who arrived with his wife, former EastEnders’ star Anita Dobson, and was dressed in a bright purple suit said: ‘‘The show gives new life to most of the songs.

‘‘The actors are fantastic and just take you to another place.’’

He added: ‘‘We’re hoping it will run for about 20 years it will be slow world domination, so we can take our time.’’

The plot imagines a world which has become homogenised through globalisation and where musical instruments have been banned.

But a grop of rebels set out to find mythical electric guitars which have been set in stone many years earlier.

Ben Elton, who was dressed in a fitted leather jacket and shades said before the performance: ‘‘It’s a show for the public.

‘‘Queen’s music is hugely popular and that is what this show should be and will be.’’

He added that the show had proved very popular with audiences in preview performances and had received regular five-minute standing ovations.

Roger Taylor, who played the drums for Queen and who, along with May is the show’s musical supervisor, said: ‘‘We wanted this to be a big theatrical event with the spirit of Queen.’’

Also attending the star-studded bash were, TV chef Jamie Oliver, Emma Thompson and her actor partner Greg Wise, Pop Idol judge Neil Fox and chat show host Michael Parkinson, who joked: ‘‘I’m not really a rocker at heart, you know.’’

Other celebrities who were last famous during Queen’s 70s heyday, included pop star Leo Sayer and actor Gareth Hunt.