It was smiles all around when a seven foot tall green ogre called Shrek bounced onto the stage at Glasgow’s King’s Theatre.
The January blues were banished as young and old alike joined in a bit of post-Christmas fun, made all the more brighter by the Shrek ears worn by most of the audience!
Shrek The Musical is currently on a nationwide tour until July and with a magical cast, colourful set and toe-tapping music, it’s a real tonic.
Based on the smash hit film, the stage set has been created to look as though you are turning the pages of a life-sized story book.
The story begins when Shrek is seven and his parents decide it’s time for him to fend for himself in his own swamp.
Life is good until a hoard of fairytale characters descend on him after being thrown out of their home by Lord Farquaad.
Shrek decides he needs to get rid of Lord Farquaad himself and along with his loveable rogue pal, Donkey, they arrive in the kingdom of Duloc and are tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona from a prison tower so she can marry the Lord and in return, Shrek will be given his swamp back. But as always, love changes all that.
Antony Lawrence plays an entertaining Shrek and has a nice singing voice but is outshined by Princess Fiona (Joanne Clifton) who gives real energy to the show and clearly relishes her role.
Brandon Lee Sears is full of zing as he jumps around the stage as Donkey and Glaswegian James Gillan enjoys playing the evil Lord Farquaad.
Star of the show for me is Gingy the sweet Gingerbread, who expertly has the strings pulled by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland puppeteer Georgie Buckland and had us all giggling away. Special mention too for Paisley born Mark D’Arcy who has fun as Pinocchio.
Cherece Richards also shines as the wicked witch and dragon and has a very powerful singing voice, and is backed up by Leo Abad as white rabbit, guard, duke, rat and knight, along with fellow ensemble members Scotty Armstrong, Imogen Bailey, Jabari Braham, Natasha Cayabyab, Jonathan David Dudley, Remi Ferdinand, Sonny Grieveson, Edward Leigh, Bethany Kate, Jessica Lim, Andile Mabhena, Bronte MacMillan, India Thornton. Talia Duff, Gabby Gregorian, Roy Shafford and Jamie Jonathan.
The show, directed by Sam Holmes with choreographer Nick Winston finished off with a rousing rendition of “I am a Believer”, which had everyone on their feet, a sign these days of a great night out at the theatre.
Shrek The Musical runs at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow until 20th January 2024, when it moves to the Edinburgh Playhouse. Ticket information is available via www.atgtickets.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs courtesy of Shrek The Musical
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