REVIEW: Shrek the Musical at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking

Brought live to the stage as a family musical, based on the smash-hit animated film, Shrek: The Musical tells the not-so-classic fairytale story of Shrek, a lone ogre who lives in a swamp and how he comes to take on a quest to battle a fire-breathing dragon to save the beautiful princess who lives in the highest room in the tallest tower. By his side is his "noble steed" – a talking Donkey. Wonderfully light-hearted and quick-witted, Shrek The Musical is a delightful family treat for the whole family. 

A Broadway recording of this show is available on DVD Starring Brian D'Arcy James and Sutton Foster, and it's safe to say I could recite along with every word. I loved that production and so was very excited to see what this UK tour brought to the stage. Lots of things have been changed for a British audience which is understandable, however there were cuts and changes made which I simply couldn't understand. For Example, "I Know It’s Today" is a beautiful trio sung by 3 versions of Princess Fiona as she grows up over time. In this production, we had Laura Main's Princess, accompanied by puppets which she has supposedly made during her 8,423 days stuck in her tower. It just didn't work. The beauty of the song was lost and what was supposed to be funny fell flat. This was a reoccurring theme throughout the evening unfortunately. 

SHREK announces full cast for UK and Ireland Tour

Believe all ‘ogre’ again! SHREK THE MUSICAL® today announces casting for the major nationwide tour. Following the unprecedented success of the first UK and Ireland tour, the original production team reunites to bring the hit musical to a swamp near you. Opening at Edinburgh Playhouse for the festive season this year from 12 December, the production will then tour throughout the country in 2018.

Leading the cast as beloved swamp-dwelling ogre ‘Shrek’ will be Steffan Harri, having previously starred in the original UK tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL®, and Call the Midwife star Laura Main as ‘Princess Fiona’. Due to filming commitments Laura will be performing at selected venues throughout the tour, with full list of dates below*. Also joining the cast will be Marcus Ayton as Shrek’s wisecracking sidekick ‘Donkey’ and Samuel Holmes as pint-sized villain ‘Lord Farquaad’. Further casting to be announced.

The company of fairy-tale characters will include Adam Baker, Ethan Bradshaw, Michael Carolan, Joseph Dockree, Will Hawksworth, Sarah-Louise Jones, Reece Kerridge, Thomas Lee Kidd, Amy Oxley, Jemma Revell, Lucinda Shaw, Sam Stones, Adam Taylor, Jennifer Tierney, Sophie Wallis, Francesca Williams, Laura Wilson and Kevin Yates.

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.

FIRST LOOK: Shrek the Musical, on tour around the UK

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 UK and Ireland tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL® will be directed by Nigel Harman who starred as Lord Farquaad in the west end production, winning him the 2012 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. It will open at the Grand Theatre in Leeds on Wednesday 23rd July, and will then visit Bristol, Nottingham, Belfast, Dublin, Oxford, Manchester, Aberdeen, Canterbury, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield, Norwich, Southampton, Plymouth and Milton Keynes with further venues still to be announced.

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.

Shrek the Musical: Theatre Review

Shrek the Musical opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on the 14th June 2011 after having a successful run on Broadway and on tour in the USA. The show has received lots of publicity from having stars such as Amanda Holden featured so my expectation was reasonably high because of the hype that the producers had surrounded the show with. However, I can say I am more than disappointed with this production.

The show was not like the original Broadway one, if it was I would have been happy but the level of quality of the scenery was not even tour standard. I sat through the first act with my head in my hands wondering how such a terrible show is being allowed to play to paying West End audiences; I would have walked out in the interval if I wasn't with someone who wanted to watch the second act.