REVIEW: Shrek the musical at Leeds Grand Theatre

Having ‘greenified’  both Broadway and the West End, Shrek the Musical kicks off its UK & Ireland Tour in Leeds and it certainly lands on its fat green feet. This touring production is full of infectious energy and Broadway magic, and looks certain to delight audiences universally. There’s a never a dull moment in this smart and intelligent stage adaptation.

The story matches that of the film fairly closely. We follow Shrek and Donkey, forced onto a quest to save Princess Fiona by the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad. We see the gradual unravelling of Shrek’s character, as he and Princess Fiona embark on a more personal journey together. There’s a heap of fairytale characters thrown in, and a rather impressive dragon. Together, they make a show with real heart and intimacy, combined with big ensemble show-stopping energy, and that’s what makes Shrek really shine.

Sneak Peak into the rehearsals for the new SHREK UK tour

Coming direct from London, where it was seen live on stage by nearly a million people, the UK and Ireland tour of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane production of SHREK THE MUSICAL® will star Dean Chisnall as beloved swamp-dwelling ogre ‘Shrek’, the role he previously played in the West End, Faye Brookes as damsel in distress ‘Princess Fiona’, Idriss Kargbo as Shrek’s wisecracking sidekick ‘Donkey’ and Gerard Carey as pint-sized villain ‘Lord Farquaad’.

They will be joined by a full company of fairy-tale characters played by Bronté Barbé, Nikki Bentley, Jennifer Caldwell, Candace Furbert, Steffan Harri, Will Haswell, James Lacey, Mia Lincoln, Rory Maguire, Neil Moors, Jenny O’Leary, Georgina Parkinson, Ryan Reid, Leo Roberts, Jacqui Sanchez, Oliver Tester, James Winter, Kerry Winter and Kevin Yates.

The Sound of Music, Regents Park Open Air Theatre: Review

Regents Park is one of my favorite venues, its a beautiful setting and is truly magical with the right production. The parks musical this year is the widely loved The Sound of Music, a film most remember from their childhoods. I must admit, I saw the film quite a few years ago and thought it was a little boring. I knew the stage show would be very different because from what I heard this production was very stripped back and was more of a play with the addition of the iconic music than a fluffy musical which, from what I hear, is what other productions have seemed to have portrayed. 

The Sound of Music follows the story of Maria Rainer who is sent from a convent to be the governess the seven children of Captain Von Trapp, after struggling with her relationship with him they finally fall for each other and get married. Set against the backdrop of the Nazi take over this story is very powerful and shows the true meaning of love and family.