Shrek: The Musical, at Arts Centre Melbourne and touring (Showcase Entertainment Group) - 2 hours, including interval

Strong, melodic voices and good-humoured banter characterise an ideal, fun-filled family musical.

Showcase Entertainment Group brings our favourite green ogre and his irritating best friend, Donkey, to life on a Victorian and NSW tour.

The musical is based on the 2001 Dreamworks Animation film and the 1990 book by William Steig.

With book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, it follows the familiar plot, but it is a slightly streamlined version of the show.

It is accessible to younger audiences that relish the more childish antics of Shrek and the fairytale creatures.

And so to the tale:

An ogre with a giant roar is kicked out of home at age seven and finds refuge by himself in a swamp.

At the same age, a princess (Fiona) is imprisoned in a tower under the watchful eyes of a fire-breathing dragon. Now 20 years have passed and she is still there.

Suddenly, the ogre’s lair is overrun by a cacophony of fairy tale creatures who have been banished there by the self-centred and diminutive Lord Farquaad.

He has his sights on being the king, but to assume the throne he must first find a queen.

When he prizes information about the whereabouts of a princess (the same one imprisoned in the tower) from a tortured gingerbread man, he goes after his prize.

Only, he doesn’t personally make the move.

He engages the ogre to do it for him and by then the said ogre has been befriended by a very annoying donkey.

The princess – who has been counting the days until her rescue – has expectations of falling hard for her rescuer, who she imagines to be a knight in shining armour.

Let’s just say she doesn’t get what she bargained for when the helmeted Shrek rocks up and she implores him to reveal himself.

But the truth is that she, too, is carrying a secret.

Zac Parkes brings timbre and tone to his depiction of the grumpy (at first) ogre.

Mighty impressive is Kate Allnut’s vocal acuity, range and clarity as the princess.

Iosia Tofilau ensures Donkey is not backward in coming forward.

Olly Humphries has a memorable turn as the egotistical Lord Farquaad.

Jocelyn Scott brings musical excellence to the dragon.

Nick Wilkinson is a bullish presence as Lord Farquaad’s offsider Thelonius, but the real surprise comes when he speaks.

The realisation of the large dragon on stage is awesome. It takes four puppeteers dressed top to toe in black to bring it to life.

Another memorable scene involves the princess going toe to toe with a sizeable bird in a nest. Funny stuff.

The costuming is colourful and memorable.

In fact, the set, props and costuming were conceived by award-winning designer Tim Hatley and were used in the West End and subsequent tours between 2020 and ’24.

The music led by musical director Catherine Hay is easy on the ear.

Well choreographed by director Jeremy Hinman, Shrek: The Musical makes for a most enjoyable couple of hours, including interval. It is a winner.

It is on at Arts Centre Melbourne until 10^th January, Frankston Arts Centre from 12^th to 14^th January and Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre on 16^th and 17^th January.

It then moves to Sydney's Coliseum Theatre from 21^st to 24^th January, 2026.  

For bookings, go to https://shrekmusical.com.au