Producers Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale are delighted to announce a brand-new production of the award-winning Broadway and West End hit show Shrek the Musical will tour the UK and Ireland from July 2023. The bright and beautiful fairy-tale world of Shrek will be reimagined by a new creative team for this major tour. All the classic characters from the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film will be back to paint the town green, accompanied by the iconic songs and story from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s original musical.
Having played Lord Farquaad in the previous UK tour, Sam Holmes (Club Tropicana the Musical) returns to the swamp to co-direct. He is joined by acclaimed director and choreographer Nick Winston, whose recent credits include Bonnie and Clyde (Arts Theatre) and Beauty and the Beast (as associate director and choreographer for the UK tour) and upcoming projects include a new world tour of We Will Rock You and a remounted UK tour of Rock of Ages.
Set and costume design will be by Philip Witcomb whose previous productions include Bonnie & Clyde In Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Jack & The Beanstalk (Everyman Theatre Cheltenham), Atlantis (Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen), Mame (Hope Mill Theatre and UK Tour), The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Stones In His Pockets (The Minack Theatre).
Further creative team to be announced in due course.
Shrek the Musical opens at Plymouth Theatre Royal on 21 July 2023 and then tours to Manchester, Dublin, Bristol, Southend, Carlisle, Aberdeen, Oxford, Wimbledon, Dartford, Northampton, Bradford, Woking, Eastbourne, Cardiff, York and Blackpool with more dates to be announced soon. The national press night will be Thursday 3 August 2023 at Opera House Manchester.
Mark Goucher said ‘I am delighted to be bringing this re-imagined production of the beloved ‘Shrek the Musical’ to audiences across the UK and Ireland. The story of Shrek is known and loved across the world and this show is an incredibly joyous, fun and uplifting evening at the theatre that will be enjoyed by all ages’
The Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film Shrek celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Shrek the Musical was first performed on Broadway in 2008, receiving 8 Tony nominations, and the award for Best Costume Design. The original West End production was nominated for 4 Olivier awards, including Best New Musical, at the 2012 Olivier awards. Nigel Harman received the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lord Farquaad.
Join our unlikely hero Shrek and his noble steed Donkey as they embark on a big, bright, musical adventure. Based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film, the Broadway and West End hit Shrek the Musical is a fun-filled, hilarious musical comedy with a cast of vibrant characters and a ‘shrektacular’ score.
Featuring the beloved Princess Fiona, the evil Lord Farquaad, a host of magical fairy-tale characters and fabulous songs including the smash hit ‘I’m a Believer’, Shrek the Musical is a ‘musical extravaganza for big kids and little kids alike’ (Bristol Post).
Come join the adventure as Shrek and Donkey endeavour to complete their quest, finding unexpected friendships and surprising romance along the way. A perfect night out for the young, and the young at heart, the award-winning Shrek the Musical is guaranteed fun for all ages and will have you dancing in the aisles and laughing all the way home.
Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the Book by William Steig
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions
Produced by Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale
Directed by Sam Holmes and Nick Winston
Choreographed by Nick Winston
Set and Costume Design by Philip Witcomb
National Press Night: Thursday 3 August 2023 at Opera House Manchester
Venue listings:
21 July 2023 – 29 July 2023
Plymouth Theatre Royal
theatreroyal.com
1 August – 12 August 2023
Opera House Manchester
15 August – 20 August 2023
Bord Gais Energy Theatre
bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
22 August – 27 August 2023
Bristol Hippodrome
29 August – 2 September 2023
The Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
southendtheatres.org.uk
5 September – 10 September 2023
The Sands Centre, Carlisle
betterboxoffice.co.uk/the-sands-centre
12 September – 16 September 2023
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
aberdeenperformingarts.com/his-majestys-theatre
19 September – 24 September 2023
Oxford New Theatre
26 September – 30 September 2023
New Wimbledon Theatre
2 October – 7 October 2023
Orchard Theatre, Dartford
orchardtheatre.co.uk
10 October – 15 October 2023
Royal & Derngate, Northampton
royalandderngate.co.uk
24 October – 28 October 2023
The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
bradford-theatres.co.uk/venues/the-alhambra-theatre
30 October – 4 September 2023
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
13 – 18 November 2023
Eastbourne Congress Theatre
eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/congress-theatre
20 November – 25 November 2023
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
wmc.org.uk
27 November – 2 December 2023
Grand Opera House York
12 December – 30 December 2023
Blackpool Winter Gardens
wintergardensblackpool.co.uk