PROMOTION
IT’S one of those creations that adults find almost as entertaining as kids. And it’s on its way to Manchester to give families and friends a night of guaranteed laughs this Christmas.
We can’t wait for families to experience their beloved swamp-dwelling ogre, Princess Fiona, Donkey and all their pals live on stage
The smash hit show Shrek the Musical is at the Palace Theatre from 2 December to 11 January as part of its first ever national tour. In London, it was seen by nearly a million people – that kind of success doesn’t happen unless a show does something special.
Produced by The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Shrek the Musical will star Dean Chisnall as beloved swamp-dwelling ogre Shrek – the role he previously played in the West End – and Faye Brookes as damsel in distress Princess Fiona.
Idriss Kargbo will play Shrek’s wisecracking sidekick Donkey and Gerard Carey will be pint-sized villain Lord Farquaad.
They will be joined by a full company of fairy-tale characters including Bronté Barbé, Nikki Bentley, Jennifer Caldwell, Candace Furbert, Steffan Harri, Will Haswell, James Lacey, Mia Lincoln, Rory Maguire, Neil Moors, Jenny O’Leary, Georgia Parkinson, Ryan Reid, Leo Roberts, Jacqui Sanchez, Oliver Tester, James Winter, Kerry Winter and Kevin Yates.
Faye Brookes was most recently on stage in Manchester at the Opera House playing the lead role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical – a performance which won her a nomination for Best Actress in a Visiting Production at the 2011 Manchester Theatre Awards.
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.
Nigel Harman said, “This show is very special to me with its dizzying blend of great characters, a hilarious script and sublime music. This production is visually stunning, and the story has the magic ingredient of moving at great pace while still being surprisingly intimate.”
Shrek the Musical is based on William Steig’s book Shrek! and the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animations feature film.
Bill Damaschke, chief creative officer of DreamWorks said, “It has been such a joy to bring this loved story to life and we can’t wait for families up and down the country to experience their beloved swamp-dwelling ogre, Princess Fiona, Donkey and all their pals live on stage, as so many have on Broadway and in the West End.”
Shrek the Musical opened on Broadway in 2008 before touring to nearly 150 cities in the USA and Canada, then Spain, Poland, France, Malaysia, China, Brazil, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands, Estonia, Israel and Turkey.
Shrek the Musical is at the Palace Theatre, Manchester from Tuesday 2 December to Sunday 11 January. Tickets start from £19.50.
