The full cast for Shrek The Musical is announced. Rising star Cherece Richards (Once on This Island, Regent’s Park Theatre) will make her debut in a principal role as the Dragon, joining the Shrek-tacular principal cast line up which includes Antony Lawrence (Shrek), Joanne Clifton (Princess Fiona), James Gillan (Lord Farquaad) and Brandon Lee Sears (Donkey) in this brand-new production. Opening at Plymouth Theatre Royal on 21 July 2023, the smash hit musical will tour through to April 2024 to a total of 31 venues.
The ensemble cast of Shrek the Musical including Leo Abad, Scotty Armstrong, Imogen Bailey, Jabari Braham, Georgie Buckland, Natasha Cayabyab, Mark Darcy, Jonathan David Dudley, Remi Ferdinand, Sonny Grieveson, Edward Leigh, Bethany Kate, Jessica Lim, Andile Mabhena, Bronte MacMillan, India Thornton. Talia Duff, Gabby Gregorian, Roy Shafford and Jamie Jonathan complete the full cast line-up.
As previously announced, Antony Lawrence will play Shrek. His previous credits include Scar in The Lion King, (International Tour) Mary Poppins (National Tour), Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre/RSC) and We Will Rock You (International Arena Tour).
Joanne Clifton, best known for her time as a professional dancer on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, will play Fiona. She joined the iconic TV show after winning the World Professional Showdance Champion and the European Professional Ballroom Championship. During her time on the show, she won the Christmas Special with McFly’s Harry Judd and went on to win the glitterball trophy as the 2016 champion with her partner Ore Oduba. On stage Joanne Clifton was most recently seen in Windfall (Southwark Playhouse) and The Addams Family (UK Tour).
Olivier Award-nominee James Gillan (Lord Farquaad) most recently created the role of Tray in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue) – a role he stayed with through the show’s entire West End run. He has also performed in productions of Wicked, Starlight Express and Taboo!
Brandon Lee Sears (Donkey) most recently played the role of Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls (UK tour). His previous theatre credits include the original West End productions of Be More Chill (Shaftesbury Theatre), Come From Away (Phoenix theatre); Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Motown the Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre); and On The Town (Regents Park Open Air Theatre).
From the producers of Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Shrek the Musical brings together a new creative team to re-imagine this award-winning Broadway and West End hit show for a new audience, featuring all the classic characters from the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film and the iconic songs and story from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s original musical.
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, Blackpool and in 2024: Glasgow Kings, Edinburgh Playhouse, Coventry Belgrade, Sunderland Empire, Liverpool Empire, Southampton Mayflower, Milton Keynes Theatres, Hull New, Cheltenham Everyman, Theatre Royal Nottingham, Norwich Theatre Royal, Grand Opera House Belfast, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham and The Millenium Forum, Derry. For full listings, please see the notes to editors below.
The national press night will take place on 27 September at New Wimbledon Theatre.
The team joining forces to re-create the bright and beautiful world of Shrek the Musical includes acclaimed director and choreographer Nick Winston (Bonnie and Clyde, Arts Theatre; Beauty and the Beast, UK tour), co-director Sam Holmes (Club Tropicana the Musical), who returns to the swamp having played Lord Farquaad in the previous UK tour. He is joined by set and costume designer Philip Witcomb (Bonnie & Clyde,Garrick Theatre; Jack & The Beanstalk, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham). Further creative team includes Ben Cracknel (lighting), Jim Arnold (casting) and Ben Harrison (sound), Nina Dunn (projection design) and Jimmy Grimes (puppet design).
Leave your troubles Far Far Away and come join the adventure as Shrek and Donkey endeavour to complete their quest of defeating the dragon and saving Princess Fiona. Featuring fabulous songs including ‘I’m A Believer’, ‘Big Bright Beautiful World’ and ’I Know It’s Today’. Shrek the Musical has cemented itself as the “musical extravaganza for big kids and little kids alike”.
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
17 October – 22 October 2023
Leicester Curve
https://www.curveonline.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
15 January – 20 January 2024
Glasgow Kings Theatre
22 January – 27 January 2024
Edinburgh Playhouse
30 January – 4 February 2024
Coventry Belgrade
https://www.belgrade.co.uk/
6 February – 10 February 2024
Sunderland Empire
12 February – 17 February 2024
Liverpool Empire
20 February – 25 February 2024
Southampton Mayflower
www.mayflower.org.uk
27 February – 3 March 2024
Milton Keynes Theatres
5 March – 10 March 2024
Hull New Theatre
https://www.hulltheatres.co.uk/
12 March – 17 March 2024
Cheltenham Everyman
https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/
19 March – 24 March 2024
Nottingham Theatre Royal
https://trch.co.uk/
26 March – 30 March 2024
Norwich Theatre Royal
https://norwichtheatre.org/
2 April – 6 April 2024
Grand Opera House Belfast
https://www.goh.co.uk/
9 April – 14 April 2024
The Alexandra, Birmingham
16 April – 21 April 2024
Millenium Forum, Londonderry
https://www.millenniumforum.co.uk/
Related News & Reviews Past & Present
- Casting Announced for Shrek The Musical UK and Ireland Tour
- Shrek The Musical announces full casting for UK & Ireland tour
- First Look at Shrek the Musical UK & Ireland Tour
- 14 new dates confirmed for Shrek The Musical Tour
- Casting update for UK and Ireland Tour of Shrek The Musical
