”Shrek the Musical” tour announces lead casting

Lead casting has been revealed for the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of Shrek the Musical.

Opening this summer in Plymouth, the show is based on the William Steig’s children’s book and the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film of the same name and is penned by David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori. It follows a curmudgeonly ogre who is roped into a quest to save a princess, only for true love to get in the way.

This new revival of Shrek will feature a different producing team to the musical’s original UK production, with Sam Holmes (who played Lord Farquaad in a previous tour) co-directing with Nick Winston (Bonnie and Clyde) who also choreographs.

The creative team will also include set and costume designer Philip Witcomb (Bonnie and Clyde), lighting designer Ben Cracknell, casting director Jim Arnold and sound designer Ben Harrison.

The show will open at Plymouth Theatre Royal on 21 July 2023 and then visit Manchester, Dublin, Bristol, Southend, Carlisle, Aberdeen, Oxford, Wimbledon, Dartford, Northampton, Bradford, Woking, Eastbourne, Cardiff, York, Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Coventry, Sunderland, Liverpool, Southampton, Milton Keynes, Hull, Cheltenham, Nottingham, Norwich, Belfast, Birmingham and Derry. A selection of dates are on sale below.

The show was first seen on Broadway 14 years ago, with a West End opening following in 2011.

Set to appear in the 2023-24 tour will be Anthony Lawrence (The Lion King tour, Matilda the Musical) as Shrek, alongside Joanne Clifton (Strictly Come Dancing, Windfall, The Addams Family) as Fiona.

Also cast are Brandon Lee Sears (Dreamgirls, Be More Chill, Come From Away) as Donkey alongside James Gillan (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), who will play Lord Faquaad.

The cast is also set to appear on the Big Night of Musicals next week, with the arena event being broadcast on BBC One later this year.