Tribute acts from the worlds of rock and pop to perform in Dubai in We Are the Champions

Dubai can expect an epic tribute to each artist with the help of a 10-piece cast contributing to highlight the music of the last five decades.

Jonothan Didlick as Freddie Mercury in We Are the Champions. Courtesy We Are the Champions

Don’t jump out of your seat when you see Michael Jackson, Elton John, Tina Turner, Pink and Freddie Mercury walk onto the stage to perform their greatest singles in Dubai this weekend.

Look again, because the impressionists performing at the We Are the Champions tribute show at Madinat Jumeirah have mastered every move of their pop idols down to a tee.

“I think I am the closest fake Pink you will find,” says Yvette Barnard. “I have her pretty much down to every fine detail – from her tattoos to the three beauty spots on her face,” says the singer, from South Africa.

Barnard, who can also imitate Janis Joplin, Debbie Harry and Cyndi Lauper, will be singing Pink’s Raise Your Glass and Just Give Me a Reason, among her other hits.

Jonothan Didlick plays the late Freddie Mercury. He admits he is taller and less slender than the former Queen frontman, but has perfected his stage presence: “Once the moustache is on and I am in costume, I think I am pretty close to Freddie’s look,” he says. “What I like about Freddie was that he always gave his all for the sake of music and the crowd. And, of course, his incredible voice.”

His favourite song is Somebody to Love, which he will be performing during the show. “It gives me a chance to interact with the ­audience.”

Samantha Tirivacho is Tina Turner. She’s been playing the diva since her first audition for Barnyard Theatres in South Africa. “I have always been fascinated by Turner and have modelled my work around her,” she says. “All the legends have raised the standard of rock and pop by simply daring to be different without limitations.”

Didlick says Dubai can expect an epic tribute to each artist with the help of a 10-piece cast highlighting the music of the past five decades. “The audience will be taken back to the time when they heard the songs for the first time. Some songs have been given a twist, too.”

We Are the Champions is at Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, from tomorrow to Saturday. Tickets start at Dh200. Call 04 366 6546 to book