Shrek The Musical At Winter Gardens Blackpool Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Cath Joyce
Most people will have seen at least one of the popular Dreamworks films about Shrek, the fictional green ogre who lives in a swamp. Now a musical, it is currently touring the UK and last night we went to the opening night at the Blackpool leg of the tour, at the world famous Winter Gardens, Blackpool Opera House.
Before we arrived I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the show. I’ve seen the film many times and love it, but what changes would be made with its move onto the stage? I needn’t have worried, this show is really a live action version of the animated film and the story is pretty much the same with all the characters we know and love.
Early on, it was clear that the show was going to be amazing. In the second scene we meet all the fairytale citizens of Duloc after they’ve been exiled to Shrek’s swamp and we were really impressed with all the costumes. Pinocchio’s costume in particular was fantastic and it really looked like the actor was made of wood! The show was made all the more spectacular thanks to the magnificent scenery. Making the most of the large stage offered by the Opera House, each location was portrayed in a style borrowing heavily from the film, projection was used to enhance the effect, being particularly useful when travelling through the forest and swamps and when the dragon was flying. I’m not usually keen on puppets on the stage as they can appear a little false and stilted but the puppets used in Shrek, the gingerbread man and the dragon, were very impressive and the show was all the better for them.
Shrek played by Antony Lawrence was fantastic, his Scottish accent was perfect and it was just like the animated character had come to life. He had a great rapport with both Princess Fiona (Joanne Clifton) and Donkey (Brandon Lee Sears) and was great to watch. James Gillan completes the main cast, playing the vertically challenged, self obsessed villain of the story, Lord Farquaad. His camp character added lots of humour to an already brilliant show.
There are lots of familiar fairytale characters in this musical including the three bears, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, the wicked witch and the three blind mice. In addition to singing they all danced brilliantly and I especially enjoyed the numbers where the whole cast was on the stage. The rat tap dance during “Morning Person” was fantastic to watch, the choreography was perfect and was a real highlight of the show. The story is also enhanced by the songs which have been written especially for the musical, as well as being catchy and easy to listen to they also help tell the story.
This is a very funny show and appeals especially to the children in the audience. At the start of the second act Shrek and Fiona try to outdo each other with farts and burps (“I Think I Got You Beat”) and the children sitting behind us loved it!
The show is on at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool Opera House for the run up to Christmas and is a great treat for all the family. There were loads of children in the audience last night and they all had a magical time. The show ended with the whole audience on their feet and a high energy rendition of the Monkee’s classic “I’m a believer” with the audience joining in.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £22.95
Shrek the Musical is in Blackpool until 1st January 2024.
For more information or to book tickets visit:
https://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/events/shrek-the-musical/