The smash-hit musical, Shrek the Musical, will arrive at Mayflower Theatre on Tuesday 20 February, for one week only.
Leave your troubles Far Far Away and join in the adventures 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.
Based on the Oscar winning DreamWorks film, the Broadway and West End hit show, Shrek the Musical, is a fun filled and hilarious musical comedy with a cast of vibrant characters and a ‘shrektackular’ score.
Anthony Lawrence will play Shrek, Joanne Clifton will play Fiona, James Gillan will play Lord Farquaad and Brandon Lee Sears will play Donkey.
“I just loved Shrek,” explains Joanne. “And then I went to see the musical at The Mayflower, and realised I wanted to play Fiona.
“I’ve watched the film and have been listening to Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona on the soundtrack and watching clips of different actors doing the role on stage. But I’ve stopped doing that now so I’m able to create my own take on it.
“I had my fitting for Fiona’s ogre body and hands and I’ve had to cut my nails short because my long ones won’t work for the quick change into my ogre suit.”
Joanne is best known for her time as a professional dancer on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, which she joined 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.
“What I love about the musical theatre world, which is different from my dancing world, is that nobody is bigger than the show,” she continues. “Coming away from the stress and the pressure of competing in the ballroom world is so refreshing for me.
“It’s teamwork in a musical: we’ve all got our separate roles and of course we want the lead ones, but even if you’re not a lead, you’re just as important because the show is the main goal.
“And it just makes me happy!
“I love that we have to go on and do the show to an audience of however many people and if anything goes wrong, we have to carry on. I love the adrenaline of that.”
Tickets for Shrek the Musical (Tuesday 20 – 25 February 2024) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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