A fairy tale which captured our hearts in the noughties is back on stage with added sass!
In 2001, Shrek landed with a bump in my house in the form of a VHS. Yes, gone are the days of VHS but I’m glad to see Shrek is still very much alive and currently touring at theatres across the country. As part of We Blog North, I was invited to SHREK THE MUSICAL at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
Now, we all know the story which follows a grumpy swamp-dwelling ogre on a quest to protect his swamp after being overrun by misfits from past and present fairy tales. Shrek demands Lord Farquaard to take back these creatures and leave him and has swamp along. But, bossy Lord Farquaard had other ideas and set Shrek a challenge; to go rescue a princess from ‘the highest room of the tallest tower’.
Leading the cast as the beloved Shrek is Steffan Harri, having previously starred in the original UK tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL, and by his side is Call the Midwife star Laura Main as Princess Fiona.
In the DreamWorks film, Shrek’s wisecracking sidekick Donkey is one of my favourite characters, and Donkey, played by Marcus Ayton, didn’t disappoint.
Fully of sass, this Ass had me in fits of giggles.
The three little piggies also made me laugh aloud with their German humour and over-sized costume.
The musical was spectacular, full of sing-a-long songs and happily ever after endings. Not tied to the film’s storyline, we got to hear more about Fiona and Shrek’s super similar upbringing. Both, lead a life of enduring solitude after both sets of parent’s sent them away at the age of seven. While we also learnt that the short comings of Lord Farquaad came from his father… but you’ll have to watch the show to find out who his equally famous fairy tale farther is.
For me, the star of the show has to go to Lord Farquaard, played by Samual Holmes, his comedy was en pointe, he worked the crowd and has us in stitches with such references to Brexit and the like.
Overall, it’s a well put together show, perfect for a family fun night out. SHREK THE MUSICAL is touring the country and with tickets from £20.00 to £59.00 its worth a visit. Find out more here: https://shrekthemusical.co.uk/buy-tickets/
SHREK THE MUSICAL coming to a swamp near you:
- TUE 16 JAN 2018 – SUN 28 JAN 2018
PALACE THEATRE, MANCHESTER - 31 JAN 2018 – SUN 11 FEB 2018
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE - 14 FEB 2018 – SUN 25 FEB 2018
NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM - 28 FEB 2018 – SUN 11 MAR 2018
HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN - WED 14 MAR 2018 – SUN 25 MAR 2018
ROYAL AND DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON - WED 28 MAR – SUN 8 APR 2018
SHEFFIELD LYCEUM - TUE 10 APR 2018 – SUN 22 APR 2018
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF - WED 2 MAY 2018 – SUN 13 MAY 2018
REGENT THEATRE, STOKE - TUE 15 MAY 2018 – SUN 27 MAY 2018
BLACKPOOL WINTER GARDENS - WED 30 MAY – SUN 10 JUN 2018
NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING - TUE 12 JUN – SUN 24 JUN 2018
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE - WED 27 JUN – SUN 8 JUL
THEATRE ROYAL, NORWICH - WED 11 JUL – SUN 22 JUL 2018
MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY - WED 25 JUL – SUN 5 AUG 2018
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE - WED 8 AUG – SUN 19 AUG 2018
BRISTOL HIPPODROME - TUE 21 AUG – SUN 2 SEP 2018
VENUE CYMRU, LLANDUDNO - TUE 11 SEP – SUN 23 SEP 2018
THE THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM - TUE 25 SEP – SAT 6 OCT 2018
KINGS THEATRE, GLASGOW - TUE 9 OCT – SUN 21 OCT 2018
GRAND OPERA HOUSE, BELFAST - TUE 23 OCT – SUN 4 NOV 2018
BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE, DUBLIN - TUE 13 NOV – SAT 24 NOV 2018
THEATRE ROYAL, PLYMOUTH - TUE 27 NOV – SAT 8 DEC 2018
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON - TUE 18 DEC 2018 – SUN 6 JAN 2019
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
P.S. Thank you to We Blog North and to the Palace Theatre for inviting my little sister and I to SHREK THE MUSICAL.
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