Shrek toppled by Charlie at Drury Lane?

Shrek The Musical will close in February 2013 to make way for the upcoming musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to be directed by Sam Mendes.

According to the Daily Mail‘s Baz Bamigboye, Shrek, which opened in summer 2011, will play its final performance at the Drury Lane theatre on 24 February 2013, clearing space for Charlie, which will reportedly begin previews on 18 May ahead of a June opening.

Mendes’ musical Roald Dahl adaptation is said to have entertained a run at the Prince Edward theatre, and was previously confirmed for the Palladium, but reportedly moved on to Drury Lane in search for “a proper home for musicals.”

However it isn’t all doom for Shrek, which has reportedly been given the green light for a UK tour in 2014.

On the subject of the Ogre show’s theatrical gazumping, a spokesperson for Dreamworks Theatrical said “Of course it is not without sadness that we have decided to leave next year, but it is some consolation that Sam… will retain the lease of this remarkable building.”