Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Plans for talented young members of MASK, the Academy of Performing Arts based at the British School of Bahrain, to stage a production based around some of Queen’s greatest hits have been scuppered by threats of legal action.
Apparently a senior member of a rival establishment protested loudly about the project and ensured the copyright owners of the songs were informed about the proposed performance by children learning to sing and act.
The kids are said to be ‘disappointed’ that they will no longer be able to ‘break free’ with rousing renditions of the band’s popular hits. Students and parents have been formally told: “unfortunately due to issues with the rights for the Queen songs that were to be the main feature … we are unable to go ahead with the show as planned.”
In my humble opinion, the late, great Freddie Mercury will be turning in his grave at the thought of a new generation of fans being blocked, for whatever reason, from singing along to the tunes he helped make famous.
A sad case of The Show Must NOT Go On.
