A 43-week tour of the musical will kick off at Manchester's Palace Theatre, where it will run from March 20-June 6, 2009, while continuing to play in the West End (where it is currently booking to October 2009).

In a press statement, Queen's Brian May said, "We are excited to be able, finally, to send a brand new top class We Will Rock You company out on tour around the UK. We are completely hands on, and will be visiting! The Mother Ship, in the Dominion Theatre, London, will be rockin' on all the while, keeping the home fires burning, until further notice!"

Producer Phil McIntyre added, "We are bursting with excitement; at last provincial audiences will get a true rock extravaganza. We can't wait to see the first-night reactions throughout the country. We Will Rock You will rock the UK; it is the biggest and best rock theatrical!"

Following its Manchester run, the production will tour to Sunderland Empire (beginning June 8), Birmingham Hippodrome (beginning July 1), Bristol Hippodrome (beginning Sept. 14) and Edinburgh Playhouse (beginning Nov. 2).

The musical has already played globally to in excess of six million people, with the London production alone having been seen by nearly four million people, played over 2,300 performances, and grossed more than £100 million at the box office. In addition to the West End production, We Will Rock You has already completed over 100 shows in Melbourne and in Sydney, and opened in Japan, Spain, Las Vegas, Russia, Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria and throughout Asia. The current Toronto production played for 61 weeks at the Canon Theatre before transferring to the Panasonic Theatre, where it continues to run. For more details visit http://wewillrockyou.queenonline.com. To book tickets for the run at Manchester's Palace Theatre, call 0844 847 2275.