On Thursday 7th March 2024, me and my best friend Robyn hopped on the train to go see ‘Shrek: The Musical’ at Hull New Theatre, the matinee performance. She very kindly bought my ticket as a birthday treat, as my birthday falls on the end of this month… The show was absolutely spectacular! 😄😄

Shrek (2001) is iconic as an animated Dreamworks comedy fantasy film. The grumpy stinky ogre Shrek is content in his solitary swamp life, isolated and alone. So he will do anything, such as go on a far travelled quest, with an annoying steed, to rescue a beautiful fair princess, cruelly imprisoned in a huge dragon guarded castle, to win back his beloved swamp, peace and quiet. Some fairy tale folk had inhabited Shrek’s land you see, but Lord Farquaad had promised to get rid, so long as he gets the girl, aka Princess Fiona 😛😛

William Steig (the writer) did a fantastic job introducing such brilliant characters – Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquaad, alongside other familiar fairy tale creatures. In terms of ogres, over the centuries there have been different imaginations; big heads, fat bellies – green, brown, red or even orange – ugly, smelly! With extra toes and fingers, horns and claws! They are usually depicted as villians, hence why William Steig’s reimagining is deemed so progressive, and a welcome change in storytelling

What stood out greatly to me in the stage production was the incredible singing voices of the cast, especially Cherece Richards as the dragon. She was just phenomenal. The dragon  was played by her but additionally there was a gigantic red dragon puppet controlled by puppeteers holding strings. Very aesthetically impressive!

Shrek’s Scottish accent was on point – his mardy demeanour well executed – Donkey both pesky and lovable, Princess Fiona sweet and super sassy, Lord Farquaad flamboyant and ever so pompous

There were many comical aspects, especially with Donkey’s exuberance. And a bit of… flatulence! “Better out than in!”

The array of fairytale characters; the three bears, sugar plum fairy, the big bad wolf, the three little pigs, pinocchio, fairy godmother, the ugly duckling, Peter pan and the white rabbit, etc, really brought the production to life (no, sorry pinocchio, you still aren’t a real boy, haha) 🤣

The choreography was so creative and the scenery/props to be admired

The final song ‘I’m a believer’ (as in the film also) – everyone in the audience were up on their feet, singing and dancing, a standing ovation! Incredible!

For my next blog post, it may be a pub painting as classes resume in April. I also have a ‘Stitch’ and a sunset diamond art to start 🎨 💎

Thank you as ever for reading/viewing. Lots of love, Lauren xx

© 2024 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com