Theatre News

Shrek Confirms Drury Lane Opening for June 2011

| London's West End |

2 July 2010

Today (2 July 2010), on the same day that Shrek Forever After, the final chapter in the hit animated series opens in the UK, producers have confirmed that the Broadway stage musical based on the first of the films will indeed have its long-rumoured West End premiere at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next year. Shrek The Musical will open on 7 June 2011, following previews from May. Tickets go on public sale on 1 October 2010.

The screen-to-stage adaptation of the irreverent alternative fairy tale about a lonely green ogre, who finds happiness and conquers a fearsome dragon with the help of a wise-cracking donkey and the tough-talking Princess Fiona, is produced by Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions and, in the company’s theatrical debut, the Hollywood studio Dreamworks (Mendes took the idea to Dreamworks when the second film was in production).

The musical has a score by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. It’s directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford and designed by Tim Hatley, with lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Peter Hylenski and choreography by Josh Prince.

Shrek The Musical premiered in December 2008 on Broadway, where it ran for just over a year. The West End offering will be based on the revamped US touring production, which launches from Chicago this month and features new songs, additional scenes, “improved illusions” and “a newly styled dragon”, as previously reported.

SHREK PERFORMING AT THE TONY AWARDS IN NEW YORK

Casting has not yet been announced for the West End production, but amongst the names mentioned in the press or wish-listed on the Whatsonstage.com Discussion Forum are Amanda Holden, Sheridan Smith, Julie Atherton, Summer Strallen, Emma Williams, Lorna Want, Kimberley Walsh, Rebecca Thornhill and Broadway’s Sutton Foster for Fiona, Clive Rowe for Shrek, Giles Terera for Donkey and Joseph Connor for Pinocchio.

Currently at Drury Lane, Oliver!, which celebrated its 50th birthday this week with a special appearance from original Fagin Ron Moody, finishes on 8 January 2011 after a two-year run.