You don’t have to go Far Far Away to find an unforgettable experience
at London’s legendary Eventim Apollo; Shrek the Musical – a Shrektacular stage adaptation of the blockbuster movie.
Join Shrek, (Antony Lawrence) and Donkey, (Brandon Lee Sears) on their intrepid journey to rescue the beautiful, but cursed, Princess Fiona (Joanne Clifton) from a castle protected by a fearsome fire- breathing dragon (Cherece Richards). Forget Hollywood endings, this story is what happens when freaks do fairy tales!
With a production as sharp as a Donkey one-liner, Shrek the Musical
rolls out ogre-sized fun. It effortlessly blends laugh-out-loud comedy, uplifting dance numbers and a core message of self-acceptance – proving ‘beautiful ain’t always pretty’.
Hitting London for 6 weeks only, don’t miss your chance to round up the whole family for an unforgettable night out. You wouldn’t want this award-winning story of acceptance to turn into a tale of regret. Book now!
Lord Farquaad, played by James Gillan, is stripped of his Napoleon complex here and of the prosthetic short legs of previous stagings. The removal of the ableist overtones is welcome – but instead, he’s lampooned as a camp, closeted gay man with a chorus of light-footed soldiers at his heels, a substitution that scarcely seems any more progressive. The production flounders on the Eventim Apollo’s huge stage, which brings all its problems into focus. The finale number, I’m a Believer, which should sum up the central themes of this show, feels like more of a last-gasp effort to get the audience on its feet. Drained of its theatrical magic, the whole thing lurches desperately from one song to the next, sapping the story of charm and humour.
The theme of judging people on their appearance is very current, and allows for a couple of the better tunes; Pinocchio’s ‘Story of My Life’ and the chorus’s animated rendition of ‘Freak Flag’. However, even with an excellent live band there’s something lacking at the core of this musical and it has to come down to the songs. Clearly the film is packed with familiar funky and upbeat classics that build huge atmosphere and support the story. Here the songs are largely rather forgettable and samey. I can’t remember one of them postshow and the closing rendition of ‘I’m a Believer’ only serves to remind you what you’ve missed. With so many plus points to the production it’s definitely an entertaining watch. But does it capture the essence of the Shrek we know and love? Perhaps not.
2007 | New York |
Reading New York |
2007 | New York |
Reading New York |
2008 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2010 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
2011 | West End |
Original London Production West End |
2011 | US Tour |
NETworks National Tour US Tour |
2024 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
2024 | West End |
West End |
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