Shrek The Musical

Shrek The Musical has burst its way onto the stage at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza!

West Bromwich Operatic Society (WBOS) presents an amateur staging of the award-winning DreamWorks production which sees the world of fairy tales turned upside down. The production is based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig.

This is a family-orientated musical which proves an entertaining couple of hours. There are moments of laughter for the younger audience members by way of storybook tropes such as the Three Little Pigs and Pinocchio. There are smaller details that can be more appreciated by the adults, such as the jests and snide remarks made by Lord Farquaad.

The story centres around Shrek accompanied by his loyal steed Donkey, as they set off on a heroic quest to rescue the beautiful, albeit feisty Princess Fiona from the tower, which is guarded by a love-sick dragon (an incredible life-like puppet on stage). Along the way, they run into fairy-tale misfits, the egotistical Lord Farquaad, and a sassy biscuit (referred to by Lord Farquaad as the fairy-tale trash and cookie thing). What ensues is a chaotic adventure full of romance and laughter, promising to delight an audience of all ages.

Praise must be given to all the production team for the incredible lighting, set design and costumes which bring the magic of the production together. The wigs and make-up were so precise and the attention to detail was second to none. All the production elements bring this show to life and create a sense of magic.

The whole cast, both main and supporting was incredible, and I forgot that this was an amateur show. The whole cast numbers were well rehearsed, and the choreography was new and refreshing. The relationship between Shrek and Donkey, played by John Wetherall and Theo Pitter was brilliant and their chemistry was infectious. Lord Farquaad, played by Simon Pugh had an incredible vocal range which was displayed in his song What’s Up Duloc? Reprise. Emily Smith did a wonderful job of bringing Princess Fiona to life, creating a spirited, strong female lead.

Featuring all new songs as well as the cult Shrek anthem, I'm a Believer this is a show you don’t want to miss. I enjoyed this show, and in a time when we are experiencing a financial crisis, it is lovely to see families going to the theatre, with many productions offering discounted tickets for young children.

Shrek the musical continues at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton until 8th October. Tickets are available at the following link https://www.grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/shrek-the-musical/