Review: Shrek (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Shrek (UK Tour) 
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 21st January 2016
★★★★

As its UK tour comes to an end, Shrek The Musical has returned to London for a short run at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Based on the 2001 DreamWorks film, Shrek translates terrifically well on stage; it is a charming musical with greater appeal than some might think.

Big Interview: Bronté Barbé

Bronté Barbé is currently starring as Princess Fiona in the UK and Ireland tour of Shrek The Musical.

Following two year runs on Broadway and in the West End, Shrek has been touring the UK and Ireland since 2014 and is about to play its final engagements in Wimbledon and Salford.

Bronté originally played Little Red Riding Hood when the tour began before taking over as Fiona last spring for the production’s second year. 

Bronté’s theatre credits include: Sharon in Cool Rider In Concert (Lyric/Duchess), Odette in Carnival of the Animals (Riverside Studios), vocalist in Momentous Musicals (UK tour) and Penny in Hairspray (Kuala Lumpur/Singapore). 

In 2010 Bronté entered Andrew Lloyd Webber’s BBC programme Over The Rainbow and was selected as one of the final ten. She also participated in the workshop for But I’m a Cheerleader The Musical directed by Jerry Mitchell and features on the Cool Rider’s original West End cast recording. 

I recently spoke to Bronté about taking over as Princess Fiona, her favourite parts of the show and what makes Shrek such a fantastic piece of theatre. We also geeked out over Hamilton and The Bridges of Madison County, discussed Cool Rider plus much, much more…

Can you believe you’re entering the final few weeks of the tour? Has it flown by?

It has been a whirlwind! I think I found out I had been cast as Little Red Riding Hood in November 2013 and then we started the following June. Then four months before the end of our first contract I found out I was going to be taking over as Fiona, and since then I can’t believe how quickly the second half of the tour has gone! It’s bonkers!

Review: Shrek The Musical (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Shrek The Musical (UK Tour) 
Milton Keynes Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 19th August 2015
★★★★

"Shrek? As in a musical of Shrek?" is what my friend asked me when I invited her to press night of Shrek The Musical's UK tour. Following two years on Broadway and two years in the West End, Shrek The Musical has hit the road. I think the concept takes some by surprise, but the 2001 DreamWorks film translates superbly on stage.

New cast announced for Shrek UK & Ireland Tour

Shrek The Musical has announced the new cast of its UK and Ireland Tour.

The new company will star Dean Chisnall who will continue his role as Shrek. Bronté Barbé will take over as Princess Fiona, starring alongside Idriss Kargbo and Gerard Carey who continue as Donkey and Lord Farquaad.

They will be joined by: Laura Baldwin, Nikki Bentley, Jennifer Caldwell, Alexander Day, Candace Furbert, Will Haswell, Keith Henderson, James Lacey, Will Jennings, Iain Mattley, Christina Modestou, Sam Murphy, Amy Oxley, Ryan Reid, Jacqui Sanchez, Jake Small, Oliver Tester, Dawn Williams, Kerry Winter and Kevin Yates.

Sneak peek at... UK Tour of Shrek The Musical

Producers of the UK touring production of Shrek The Musical have released the show's production pictures featuring the brand new cast in action. Take a look at the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Directed by former West End cast member Nigel Harman, the UK tour of Shrek The Musical stars Dean Chisnall (Shrek), Idriss Kargbo (Donkey), Gerard Carey (Lord Farquaad) and Faye Brookes (Princess Fiona). 

They are joined by: Bronté Barbé, Nikki Bentley, Jennifer Caldwell, Candace Furbert, Steffan Harri, Will Haswell, James Lacey, Mia Lincoln, Neil Moors, Jenny O’Leary, Georgina Parkinson, Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Ryan Reid, Leo Roberts, Jacqui Sanchez, Oliver Tester and Kerry Winter.

Nigel Harman to direct 2014/15 Shrek UK & Ireland Tour

It has been announced that Nigel Harman will direct the 2014/15 UK are Ireland Tour of Shrek The Musical, which begins at the Grand Theatre in Leeds on Wednesday 23rd July.

The tour will then visit Bristol, Nottingham, Belfast, Dublin, Oxford, Manchester, Aberdeen, Canterbury, Newcastle, Glasgow and Sheffield, with further venues still to be announced.

Nigel Harman originated the role of Lord Farquaad in the West End production of Shrek The Musical which was seen by nearly one million people at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Nigel went on to win the 2012 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Nigel was recently cast as Simon Cowell in I Can't Sing, the X Factor musical which opens at the London palladium next year.

Shrek The Musical, which was originally directed in the West End by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, is based on the story and characters from William Steig's book Shrek! and the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animations feature film.

X Factor's Amelia Lily joins Shrek The Musical for Children In Need

As the momentum continues to build for the show-stopping BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical, the charity is thrilled to announce the addition of Amelia Lily to its celebrity line-up. The X Factor finalist will take to the stage to perform a unique collaboration with cast members from the award-winning Shrek The Musical.

Amelia said “Shrek The Musical is loved by people of all ages, I'm thrilled to be a part of it. I can’t wait to start rehearsals!”

Interview: Alice Fearn, currently playing Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek The Musical

Alice Fearn is currently playing Gingy and the Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Dury Lane. She also understudies Princess Fiona. Alice's many theatre credits include The Woman In White, Les Misérables and the Regent’s Park Open Air's production of Into The Woods. She also recently played Shazzer in the workshops for Bridget Jones the Musical. Alice will appear in the upcoming film adaptation of Les Misérables. Throughout her career she has worked as a vocalist on many feature films including Sweeney Todd, Mamma Mia, Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon and Pirates of the Caribbean. Alice talks to West End Frame about all things Shrek, what it was like working on the film adaptation of Les Misérables and what we can expect from Bridget Jones the Musical...

You have been playing Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek The Musical for nearly a year and a half now, are you still enjoying it?

To play such a loved part is always going to be enjoyable! If I'm ever having a trying day or feel in need of a break I can guarantee there will be a child in the audience that day who laughs so loud and so clearly at that puppet that it can't help but bring me back to realising how special the part is and how much joy it brings. It's lovely to get the reaction I get so it's been a really wonderful opportunity for me. Having said that, by the time my current contract is up I will have played the role for almost 2 years and I think that will be enough. It can, quite often, be very tiring on my voice and a rest will be on the cards when January 2013 comes round.

Theatre Gossip: Douglas Hodge cast as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

According to the Daily Mail, Douglas Hodge will play Willy Wonka in Sam Mendes, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the West End at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Please remember that this news is yet to be officially confirmed.

The Newspaper claims that Sam Mendes said he wanted to cast a "proper actor" for the role and not just a celebrity and Olivier and Tony Award winner Hodge fits the bill. He has appeared on Broadway in La Cage Aux Folles and will appear this year in Jamie Lloyd's Cyrano de Bergerac. Hodge has also appeared in Donmar Warehouse's Inadmissible Evidence and West End productions of Guys and Dolls and Bashville.

Warner Bros, Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in June 2013. Previews start on 18 May 2013. The theatre currently houses Shrek which recently announced that it will close in February 2013.

Shrek The Musical to close, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory moves to Drury Lane

Shrek The Musical will close at the West End’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, giving its final performance on Sunday 24 February 2013. It makes way for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was originally going to open at the London Palladium.

The musical of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Neal Street founder and former Donmar Warehouse artistic director Sam Mendes, will now premiere at Drury Lane in June 2013, following previews from 18 May.

First seen on Broadway in 2008, Shrek had its West End premiere at Drury Lane on 14 June 2011 (previews from 6 May 2011 and a lengthy get-in). Commenting on it’s closure, Bill Damaschke from Dreamworks Theatricals, said: “When we moved in to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in March 2011, we knew that it would be the perfect home for Shrek The Musical and so it has proved to be. Joining an illustrious list of new musicals that have played this venue is a source of pride for me personally, and for the whole transatlantic team that works on the show every day.

Poll Result: Rachel Tucker wins 'Best Performance Of A Song In A Musical' for her performance of 'Defying Gravity'

Hundreds of you have voted and decided that Rachel Tucker is the winner of our 'Best Performance Of A Song In A Musical' poll. She won for her performance of the incredible song 'Defying Gravity' in long running West End Show Wicked!!

Below is a countdown of the result:

8th Place 

Joanna Monro 

Take A Chance On Me

Mamma Mia

Votes - 1%

7th Place 

Sharon D Clarke

Believer

Ghost The Musical 

Votes - 2%

6th Place 

Carley Stenson

So Much Better

Legally Blonde The Musical 

Votes - 4%

5th Place 

Dean Chisnall

Who I'd Be

Shrek The Musical 

Votes - 9%

4th Place 

Caroline Sheen

I Dreamed A Dream

Les Misérables

 Votes -10%

click here to find out who the top 3 are...

Carley Stenson takes over the west end! (and yes, I am still alive)

There will be no rest for Carley Stenson after she finishes her successful stint playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical next month as she is to star in her first Cabaret and and cross the swamp to take over as the green girl in Shrek The Musical!!!  

Carley as Elle Woods

The first time I saw Carley was when she played Margot in Legally Blonde (and was 2nd Cover Elle) and I have to say I thought she was very weak. Her voice was noticeably not as strong as everyone else's and her acting was just OK. So when she got the role of Elle I was quite shocked and presumed she would be terrible! The first time I saw her as Elle I was surprised as she was great! Her voice was still weak which was a massive floor as it was the only thing that prevented her from leading the company as she acted the role amazingly and created a great relationship with the audience. However when I saw her this January it was like a completely different person! She really led the company and her singing had massively improved. I think she brought back something to the show that had been lost once Sheridan left - she made the audience really care for Elle which gets you much more into the show. 

This is something I hope she can really bring to Shrek as I felt Amanda Holden really led the cast, especially through out 'Morning Person'. I wish Carley the best of luck and the details of her cabaret are below.

Listen to how good Carley is these days singing So Much Better in Legally Blonde...

Good Luck To The Original Cast Of Shrek The Musical Tonight!!

Good luck to all the Original Cast members tonight leaving the show after a great run! It's such a fun show to watch and the ensemble really help carry the show. 

I will leave you with a great video of the Original West End ensemble of Shrek doing their thing in Freak Flag, my favourite number from the show... they will be missed!

What's On Stage Awards 2012 - My Views

So, as many of you west end theatre fans will know, a week ago today (Sunday 19 February 2012) the 'Whats On Stage' Awards 2012 took place at the Prince of Wales Theatre. This was the first year that the show was broadcast online so, throughout the evening I dipped in and out of the broadcast. I thought that it was excellent that you could watch it online, this follows in the footsteps of the Laurence Olivier Awards which last year could be seen by pressing the red button. However I did feel the coverage wasn't brilliant and the presenter (not quite sure who he has) seemed a little bit lost throughout the interviews however I did feel sorry as nobody seemed to actually answer the questions being asked.

Anyway, the voting statistics and acceptance speeches have been published on Whats On Stage and can be viewed by clicking here. 

Cassie Levy with Richard Fleeshman
(winner of 'Best Actor In A Musical')

I was very happy at Ghost picking up more technical awards for Set Design and Lighting Design as technically  I think it is the bets show I have ever seen. However thing I loved most about Ghost is the way one seconds all these special effects would be used and you would be sitting there going 'wow this looks amazing' and then suddenly the next Cassie Levy just sat on the floor, leaning on a sofa and sung arguably one of the most beautiful songs of a new musical. For that reason I think it was a great shame she was overlooked in the Best Actress In A Musical award. I saw Cassie in her last performance in the west end, before leaving to Broadway and there is something about her voice, when you here it live that is just amazing. In Rain/Hold on she hit the most incredible notes and I am sure she will do amazing in Broadway and I'm sure she will pick up more awards. Richard Fleeshman must have been happy to get his hard eared award for best actor in a play, especially as he flew back from Broadway, especially for the awards! Also do not be mistaken and think I am saying Amanda Holden didn't deserve her award as despite what some critics and theatre fans said i thought she actually was very good in Shrek. She owned the stage and led the cast which is something missing from the show now that she has gone, like when Sheridan Smith left Legally Blonde.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's
reaction to his award...

I thought it was great Hannah Waddingham won best supporting actress for a musical as I thought she was great in the wizard of oz. I really like what Andrew Lloyd Webber did with the show and I think it transformed the Wicked Witch into a much better, more exciting part so she has much to thank Webber for! For that reason I also think it was right The Wizard Of Oz won best revival. 

Nigel Harmen finishes in Shrek The Musical tomorrow night, Neil McDermott must be feeling very nervous today as he has a very tough act to follow! Nigel is hilarious as Lord Farquaad and rightly won Best Supporting Actor In A Musical. Another show winning three awards was Matilda, this only makes me want to see it more as I have only heard amazing things about it! I've got the soundtrack which is slowly growing on me and I will be sure to write a full review after I see it in the coming months. Another show that I have yet to see that did well was One Man, Two Guvnors, I think I am going to wait until it is at The Royal Haymarket as it is my favourite theatre.

Susan McFadden with the
cast of Legally Blonde

...and finally Best Takeover Of A Role must have been one of the toughest categories at this years awards  with, in my opinion, all nominees deserving to win. Although I did think it was a shame Susan McFadden didn't win as she is one of the most underrated actresses in the West End and had one of the hardest jobs in the world, taking over from Sheridan Smith as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde - I wouldn't want to have been in her shoes! Despite having a short run I thought, vocally, she is the strongest Elle there has been and it is a shame she didn't get any recognition for her hard work and talent.


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So - that is my first review done!! I'm exhausted! Hope you didn't find that boring and completely pointless. I have begun work on a review of Legally Blonde and I have written a mini article for the cast members leaving Shrek The Musical to be posted tomorrow... until then... thanks for reading!