Shrek The Musical JR

Shrek The Musical JR. follows the story of a grumpy but lovable ogre whose peaceful life is turned upside down when a host of fairytale creatures are banished to his swamp. Alongside a chatty Donkey, Shrek sets out on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona, discovering along the way that true friendship, acceptance and love can be found in the most unexpected places.

Drama Geeks presented a colourful, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable production, full of heart and humour.

The main set featured a fantastic video wall, which allowed the action to flow seamlessly from scene to scene and kept the pace of the show moving well. The raised platform at the back of the stage created opportunities for dramatic entrances and exits, adding visual interest throughout the performance. The handmade set pieces were beautifully crafted, and I particularly appreciated the attention to detail in Fiona's tower, with the tally marks counting off the days she had spent waiting for rescue.

There was very good use of the performance space, with Shrek and Donkey venturing out through the audience during their adventure, creating a sense of involvement and excitement. The cast also made excellent use of the aisles during dance numbers, surrounding the audience with the fun and energy of the piece.

It was clear from the very beginning that everyone on stage was enjoying themselves, and the enthusiasm of the company was infectious. The performances from the storytellers and fairytale ensemble were engaging and captivating throughout, so well done to all involved.

There were three principal casts for the production, and I attended a performance by Team Tower (Blue Team).

Rubin Morgan, playing Shrek, captured perfectly the character's sense of "Why me?" that makes Shrek so relatable and endearing. Rubin's laid-back approach brought a relaxed comedic style to the role, which is a difficult skill to master. Their understated humour had the audience quietly sniggering throughout and provided a wonderful contrast to the highly energetic force that was Donkey. Well done, Rubin.

Harry Turner portrayed Donkey with great physicality and excellent comic timing. I particularly enjoyed the background business involving the strawberry laces during one scene; it felt completely in character and demonstrated a strong understanding of Donkey's playful personality. A very enjoyable performance.

Macie Sinclair was simply stunning as Princess Fiona. Her vocals were impressive, and her acting ability shone throughout. She struck exactly the right balance between fairy-tale princess charm and Fiona's feisty, independent spirit.

Eva Charlton gave us a wonderfully funny performance as Lord Farquaad. Dancing on your knees is certainly no easy task, but Eva led the choreography confidently while maintaining character throughout. Well done.

Jessica Anderson was a commanding Dragon, bringing great stage presence to every appearance. The costume was striking, particularly the headpiece, which proved to be a real scene-stealer.

Special congratulations should also go to the two young Fionas, Olivia Henderson and Jasmine Aiken Burnikell. Their harmonies blended beautifully, and each performer brought her own individuality and charm to the role.

I must also mention Isabelle Foster as Gingy. This is such a fun character to play, and Isabelle embraced every moment. Her delivery of lines was excellent, earning genuine laughs from the audience throughout. Well done.

The costumes looked fantastic and added an abundance of colour, texture and detail to an already impressive production. Congratulations to Charlotte, Georgina and all of the creative and production teams for producing such an enjoyable show. It was a very good production, and I am already looking forward to seeing what Drama Geeks present next.

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