UK Theatre Network

Picture (l to r):  Richard Blackwood (Donkey), Nigel Lindsay (Shrek), Amanda Holden (Princess Fiona), Nigel Harman (Lord Farquaard).


Shrek the Musical
Review by Anne Darnell 

Shrek the Musical, the latest show to hit London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, is set to be a long running hit. The matinee preview opened to a full house and children and adults alike, waited in anticipation. They weren’t to be disappointed as the story of Shrek, the swamp ogre, began with Shrek setting out to free the swamplands for him and his fairy tale friends, from the evil Lord Farquaad. His mission was simple, free the princess from the tower guarded by a fierce and fiery dragon.

This endearing and funny adventure delighted the audience with characters from all of our childhoods. The cranky gingerbread man, excellently articulated by Alice Fern, and the tap dancing Pied piper rats were brought to life with humour and fun.

We soon met the damsel in distress Princess Fiona who lives in the tower alone with her curse, beauty by day, fluorescent green ogre by night. Shrek’s battle to free her, enthrals the audience with impressive and well designed sets including moving bridges, and the creatively puppeteered dragon who is charmed by Donkey, played to its full comic effect by  Richard Blackwood.

In return for being freed, Princess Fiona must marry the pint sized Lord Farquaard. A truly stunning performance by Nigel Harman who stole the show with the whole performance carried out on his knees with Lord Farquaard's tiny limbs in front of him. Harman shows his great versatility as an actor with the comic genius and parody played out in his character.

On the journey to the castle where she will wed, Princess Fiona and Shrek fall in love. Nigel Lindsay as Shrek is captivatingly realistic. With the Scottish accent off to a tee, powerful vocals and an amazing costume and make up, he becomes Shrek, the gruff ogre with a big heart.

There is a great chemistry with Britain’s Got Talent’s Amanda Holden who showcases her many talents including comic timing, singing, tap dancing and burping! After a misunderstanding along the way Princess Fiona leaves Shrek to marry Lord Farquaard before sunset when she turns into an ogre. Realising the misunderstanding and his true feelings, Shrek arrives at the wedding in time for Fiona to reveal her ogre and finds true love in Shrek. The show comes to a dazzling finale with the dragons breathtaking entrance above the heads of the audience and the great vocals from Landi Oshinowo.

The happy ever after fairly tale concludes with ‘I’m a Believer’ and the full cast getting a standing ovation from the delighted audience.

Shrek the Musical is a spectacular addition to the West End's musical theatre mix. It is set to delight audiences young and old for a long time to come.

To enjoy this musical delight yourself click here for tickets.