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Programme Notes for Shrek the Musical October 16th 2018
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SHOW STARTS AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE AT 7.00 PM.
This audio described performance is brought to you by Sightlines and the Grand Opera House. The describers are Amy Stewart and Marie Abbott.
The story of SHREK! by William Steig, was first published in 1990. In 2001 it was released as an animated film by Dreamworks, and won an Oscar. It was followed by three more films. In December 2008, Shrek the Musical first opened in Broadway.
It has become a modern classic fairy tale. The music is played live in the show, by an orchestra located in front of the stage.
The Set
The sets for Shrek the Musical are all based on the pictures you would find in a child’s picture book – exaggerated, stereotypical images. Like in a picture book, everything is flat and one dimensional. So where there is grass, trees or a wall, it is as though they have been cut out from a big picture book and stood upright on the stage.
Right at the start, the theatre curtains are a rich, verdant green and the edges are embellished with thick trailing ropes of leaves like stalks of a beanstalk. When the curtains open a huge book is projected onto a canvas screen, about twice the height of a man, in the centre of the stage. The projection allows the book to appear to open and words appear on the left hand page and pictures on the right.
At different times heads pop through the canvas into the projected image, to sing and tell the story. At first the book has a green cover that looks like leather, emblazoned on the front with a big green letter ‘S’. The ‘S’ has two stalks protruding out the top, like the strange ears of an ogre. When the cover of the book opens the left side page has the words ‘Once upon a time’ printed in a gothic style.
When the book is removed we are in Shrek’s swamp. It is very green – the floor is green, the sky is green, there are clumps of green grass and thick green vines overhead. In the middle of the stage is the door to Shrek’s house. There are two thick tree trunks on either side of a door made of wooden planks. The planks are broken unevenly at the top, and a sign saying ‘Go Away’ hangs off a nail in the middle. Later, bright pink and yellow flowers pop out around the door frame. A big orangey sun shines in the background. As the day progresses the sky turns a dark blue. Later, when Shrek is lost in the swamp, it is darker green, and the trees are thick and dense.
In the next scene we are inside Farquaad’s torture chamber. Here the backdrop appears to be a room with walls of solid grey bricks with flaming torches in sconces on the walls. There are two very solid, heavy doors in the centre with the letter ‘f’ carved into the wood.
Donkey and Shrek arrive in Duloc and stop outside the entrance to Lord Farquaad’s castle. The painted backdrop for this is a massive, brick built fortress, very grey, solid and imposing. There are two very tall towers to the left and right, each with a single narrow window at the top. Two slightly smaller, solid columns sit to the left and right of the entrance, a set of heavy wooden doors. Above the doors is a shield with the letter ‘f’ emblazoned on it. Four very neat, immaculately trimmed green trees sit on either side of the door. In the blue sky above puffy white clouds flit past.
When Farquaad is announced the fortress backdrop lifts away and behind it is the courtyard and the walls of Farquaad’s castle. To the far left and right are two narrow columns, each with a flag flying from it. Closer to the centre are two more columns, each with a long banner hanging down with the letter ‘f’ in gold. These two columns are linked by ramparts the width of the arched entrance door.
The tower where Princess Fiona is imprisoned is a classic fairy tale image. A pointed stone turret with a narrow window sits on top of a wider room still high in the clouds. This room has a wide window and a balcony upon which Fiona stands to read her books. The balcony has filigree metal work, finishing in a pretty heart detail right in the middle. Perched on the balcony are Fiona’s seven fairy tale princess puppets. They are soft fabric dolls with mouths that can be opened and closed to look like they are singing.
The whole tower is covered in climbing tendrils of thick plants. High in the sky, behind the top of the tower is an orange sun, and puffy white clouds are all around the high balcony. The colour of the sky changes during this sequence, from pink at first to purple and then red.
On the way to the fiery stronghold of the dragon, Shrek and Donkey walk together as the background behind them scrolls through different scenery. Some of it is rolling pastures and green fields and later the hot, dry svelte of Africa.
It changes slowly on the approach to the fiery Dragon’s keep, getting darker as Shrek and Donkey climb a small stair onto the rickety rope bridge. The bridge is narrow, just wide enough for one person. It has frayed ropes and wooden slats, through which come draughts of steam from below. The sky is fiery red, with puffs of dry ice lit red like hot lava steam.
Shrek and Donkey enter the dragon’s keep. It’s dark and close at first and then opens up when we see the four captured knights held in stocks. They stand upright with their heads and hands locked in a tight wooden brace. The scene is all dark and smoky with black and white bare brick glimpsed behind, and barred windows high above.
Next we visit Fiona’s messy room in the dragon’s keep. The high tower is visible in the background, outlined against the bare bricks of the keep. The bed is a wooden box with a thin mattress and pillow on top. It has tee shirts and a bra sticking out of the storage beneath.
Later, outside the keep, Fiona, Shrek and Donkey are back in the woods. Now the space is more open. To the left and right angled struts curve out onto the stage, like the trunks of big, green trees. In the background, behind a lattice of creepers, is a huge, orange sun in a blue sky that darkens as the scene progresses. There are tall, rugged cliffs far away, and a web of thick, uneven tendrils overlays the mountains and the sun.
Later, Shrek and Donkey talk alone. They are closer to the cliffs which now loom in the background. Rising behind the cliffs is a massive full moon in a dark sky with pin pricks of starlight.
In the second act the colours are all brighter and lighter, and the woods are more open and airy. The cabin that Fiona finds is another story book classic. It has a high pitched roof and is built from small cobble stones and thick wooden beams. The image of the cabin is printed onto a thin, translucent gauze that can be lit so we can see Fiona inside the cabin.
The cathedral has a raised altar in the middle of a shiny, polished floor. Looming above everything at the back of the stage is a huge, arched, leaded glass window. At the peak of the arch is a circle of leaded glass with a ring of stars around the outside and a big five pointed star in the centre of the circle.
The final scene is back in Shrek’s swamp.
CHARACTERS AND COSTUMES
There is a large cast of characters, with twenty-two actors who sing, dance and perform in the show.
Four lead actors play the main characters of SHREK, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and the Donkey throughout the show. The other actors all play more than one role, - guards, fairy-tale characters and puppeteers. Four are dancers/ singers.
SHREK, the friendly Ogre hero is played by Stefan Harri. Shrek has green skin and is built up to be larger than life, almost 7 feet tall, with large hands. His head is large round and bald with a rounded nose and chin. His two ears, shaped like small trumpets, sit out like antennae on each side of his head. He wears a knee length light brown robe, made of rough woven fabric, with long sleeves, and a short crocodile-skin waistcoat. A wide leather belt sits below his large belly, and his very bowed legs are clad in red and blue tartan trousers. Heavy brown laced boots with thick soles increase his height and complete his outfit. Shrek likes to scare people, but not harm them.
PRINCESS FIONA is played by Amelia Lily. She is slim, with a heart–shaped face, wide smile and expressive eyes. Her auburn wavy hair is worn in a single thick plait which hangs down her back to her waist. A diamond tiara sits neatly on her head, and a string of diamonds adorns her elegant neck. She wears a full length skirt made of green patterned velvet, with an overall small print. Fiona also wears a neat dark green long sleeved velvet waistcoat, laced at the front. The neckline is scooped, and the sleeves are close-fitting. Her shoes are green, with a small heel.
The part of LORD FARQUAAD is played by Samuel Holmes . Farquaad is youthful, with shoulder –length straight thick black hair, dark eyebrows and he has a clean shaven face. This character, Lord Farquaad, initially appears to be of small stature, but this is quickly recognised as an illusion, as the actor performs in costume on his knees, with a pair of thin little legs attached from his waist down. He wears a blue and red tunic, with diamond shaped panels at the top, and a striped skirt, worn over yellow striped leggings and red leather boots with a blue cuff. The tunic sleeves have yellow and blue slashed panels and blue gauntlet gloves. He wears a red and blue solid circular hat. His full trailing cloak, which hides his real legs, is also patterned with diamond shapes. His outfit is adorned all over with glittering beads and sequins that reflect the lights as he moves around. He also appears in a similar red and gold patterned tunic, with a long matching cloak.
The DONKEY is played by Marcus Ayton. The Donkey appears in a close-fitting body costume of textured grey fabric, with padded thighs, buttocks, and arms, and large grey hooves on his hands and feet. The bodysuit is darker grey from the knees down. His hair is black and bushy and a mane made of short black fabric loops runs from the top of his head right down his neck and along his spine, ending in a tail. Two large pale grey ears sit firmly upright on his head. His face has white markings across his forehead and down his nose.
There are fourteen fairy tale characters who appear together as a group in the show.
Other characters in order of appearance:
MAMA OGRE, Shrek’s mother, is played by Jennifer Tierney. She is large, green skinned and her antenna-like ears peek through her brown hair. She wears a long tweed patched skirt and brown blouse. Jennifer also plays MAMA BEAR (one of the fairy-tale characters) when she wears a padded brown bear suit, skirt and top, with woolly hat, bear ears and a black bear’s nose.
PAPA OGRE is played by Kevin Yates. He is very tall, and padded to look heavily built, and wears baggy trousers and a loose brown tunic. He has dark hair, green skin and trumpet shaped ears, like Shrek. Kevin also plays PAPA BEAR , dressed in a dark brown woolly coat worn over brown woolly trousers, and a woolly hat, bear ears and a woolly beard. He also plays a KNIGHT dressed in metal armour with a body corset, metal arms and legs protection and a round flat topped metal helmet. The Knights carry swords.
The KING ( Fiona’s father) is played by Michael Carolan. He appears in a knee length purple velvet robe, and wears a large crown. He also plays the WOLF, dressed in a full length blue flowery padded dressing gown, with a lace collar, worn over his wolfskin suit. He wears a wolfskin hat, with ears. Michael also plays THELONIUS a Torturer for Lord Farquaad. In that role he wears a short tunic of chain mail, over grey leggings and boots. His head is completely covered with a hood, with only his eyes visible.
THE QUEEN ( Fiona’s mother) is played by Laura Wilson. She wears a long shimmering blue velvet gown and a gold crown. She later appears as the Wicked Witch, and wears an outfit with a black net full skirt, dotted with a gilt spiders web markings,a bright orange bodice, black net gloves, long black net cape and multi-coloured pointy witches hat. She carries a colourful broomstick She later appears as one of the THREE BLIND MICE,( from the nursery rhyme characters.) The Three Blind Mice appear as female singers, dressed identically in short white wigs, wearing short pink silky evening dresses, white fur jackets, pink tights and white shoes. They wear large white mouse ears, black sunglasses and carry white canes.
A group of VILLAGERS appear, all dressed in simple similar outfits, with long skirts or dresses for the women, with tunics , trousers and boots for the men- all in shades of brown or dull orange.
Will Hawksworth plays the CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS. He wears the shining metal armour of a guard with a full breast-plate, shoulder panels, cod-piece and armour on arms, thighs and lower legs. On his head he wears a circular, flat-topped headpiece. He carries a very long sword. (This outfit is basically the same for all the Guards) Will Hawksworth also plays The PIED PIPER . For this character he wears a soft brow tunic, edged with yellow trim, over a yellow shirt and brown trousers tucked into his boots. He wears a yellow cap, with a feather in it, and a peak that covers his eyes.
Reece Kerridge plays one of the THREE LITTLE PIGS. Each of the Little Pigs is a huge figure. They have full padded stomachs, behinds and legs, with belts and braces to hold up their wide girth. Each wears a large pigs nose, ears, feet and curly tails. They are each dressed in various shades of pink, with pink stripped trousers, shirts and patterned jumpers.
Adam Taylor plays one of the THREE LITTLE PIGS. Each of the Little Pigs is an imposing figure. They have full padded stomachs, behinds and legs, with enormous belts and braces to hold up their wide girth. Each wears a large pigs nose, ears, feet and curly pig’s tail.
PINOCCHIO is played by Joseph Dockree. Pinocchio is a wooden puppet, with a long wooden nose, and he wears short blue trousers, a white shirt, yellow leggings, red shoes and a straw hat. Joseph also plays a Knight and is a puppeteer for the DRAGON.
There is a small flat puppet character for the GINGERBREAD MAN, which is carried on a board by another character- either a guard in the torture chamber or by one of the fairytale characters.
RED RIDING HOOD is played by Sarah- Louise Jones. She is dressed all in red- from her bright scarlet cap worn over curly hair, to her knee-length red silky dress and cape, and red dancing shoes.
The FAIRY GODMOTHER is played by Lucinda Shaw. The Fairy Godmother wears a calf-length lilac dress, with a full circular ruffled skirt and tight bodice, with fairy wings attached. She has grey laced up boots. Her silver grey hair is piled up on her head into a cone shape and she carries a purple wand. Lucinda is also the DRAGON.
Sophie Wallis plays the part of the UGLY DUCKLING. She wears a fluffy padded outfit, in mottled brown and grey with stripped leggings, and large webbed orange feet. On her head she wears a fluffy hood, with an orange beak as a cap.
PETER PAN is played by Sam Stones . Peter Pan is dressed in a short tunic made from large green leaves, worn over green tights. He has thick vivid blue hair, worn swept back off his face. He carries a lantern. Sam is also a puppeteer for the Dragon.
BABY BEAR is played by Francesca Williams. She wears a brown furry bear suit, with trousers, long woolly socks, a jumper and scarf, and a hat with bear ears and a black nose. Francesca also plays one of the 3 Blind Mice.
The part of the SUGAR PLUM FAIRY is played by Jemma Revell. This fairy is dressed in a ballet tutu, with a stiff pink sparkly net skirt, a pink laced bodice and a pair of fairy wings. Her blond hair is piled high on her head, and she carries a pink wand. Jemma also voices the Gingerbread man puppet. Jemma is also one of the 3 Blind Mice singers.
Adam Baker plays one of the LITTLE PIGS, padded out and dressed in pink. He also plays the BISHOP, in the cathedral scene, wearing a golden robe and bishops mitre hat. He is also a dragon puppeteer.
Several of the cast play the parts of the DULOC DANCERS , citizens of Duloc, dressed in vivid red and blue soft plastic outfits. These outfits consist of short flared knee length skirts with contrasting tops- red skirt/blue top or blue skirt/red top worn with red or blue plastic tights and shoes. The male and female dancers also wear red or blue kneepads and yellow plastic hair caps.
The DRAGON is a key beautiful character in the show. The dragon is very large, and held floating aloft on tall rods by 4 puppeteers. The puppeteers are dressed in black leggings, tops and close fitting caps to be as invisible as possible. The Dragon’s body and tail is built with a light flexible frame which allows it to be carried as if walking, and to bend and turn and swoop across the stage. Its body frame is covered in a billowing silky fabric with pink scales all over, and with golden scales on its underbelly. The Dragon has wings that can be extended, and rigid scales along its spine and tail. The head is very large, with small horns and a wide mouth that opens to reveal sharp white teeth. Its large yellow eyes light up and have a slit pupil and moveable eyelids with long eyelashes that can open and close and flutter expressively. The dragon is inflated slightly and floats above the stage. As the lighting changes colour, the dragon appears to become green or red. In the final scene of the show, the dragon appears as a beautiful woman dark-haired and dressed in a tight shiny pink dress. When she turns around her shapely tail on a light frame moves behind her, reminding us that she is a dragon.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SHOW STARTS AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE AT 7.00 PM.
This audio described performance is brought to you by Sightlines and the Grand Opera House. The describers are Amy Stewart and Marie Abbott.
The story of SHREK! by William Steig, was first published in 1990. In 2001 it was released as an animated film by Dreamworks, and won an Oscar. It was followed by three more films. In December 2008, Shrek the Musical first opened in Broadway.
It has become a modern classic fairy tale. The music is played live in the show, by an orchestra located in front of the stage.
The Set
The sets for Shrek the Musical are all based on the pictures you would find in a child’s picture book – exaggerated, stereotypical images. Like in a picture book, everything is flat and one dimensional. So where there is grass, trees or a wall, it is as though they have been cut out from a big picture book and stood upright on the stage.
Right at the start, the theatre curtains are a rich, verdant green and the edges are embellished with thick trailing ropes of leaves like stalks of a beanstalk. When the curtains open a huge book is projected onto a canvas screen, about twice the height of a man, in the centre of the stage. The projection allows the book to appear to open and words appear on the left hand page and pictures on the right.
At different times heads pop through the canvas into the projected image, to sing and tell the story. At first the book has a green cover that looks like leather, emblazoned on the front with a big green letter ‘S’. The ‘S’ has two stalks protruding out the top, like the strange ears of an ogre. When the cover of the book opens the left side page has the words ‘Once upon a time’ printed in a gothic style.
When the book is removed we are in Shrek’s swamp. It is very green – the floor is green, the sky is green, there are clumps of green grass and thick green vines overhead. In the middle of the stage is the door to Shrek’s house. There are two thick tree trunks on either side of a door made of wooden planks. The planks are broken unevenly at the top, and a sign saying ‘Go Away’ hangs off a nail in the middle. Later, bright pink and yellow flowers pop out around the door frame. A big orangey sun shines in the background. As the day progresses the sky turns a dark blue. Later, when Shrek is lost in the swamp, it is darker green, and the trees are thick and dense.
In the next scene we are inside Farquaad’s torture chamber. Here the backdrop appears to be a room with walls of solid grey bricks with flaming torches in sconces on the walls. There are two very solid, heavy doors in the centre with the letter ‘f’ carved into the wood.
Donkey and Shrek arrive in Duloc and stop outside the entrance to Lord Farquaad’s castle. The painted backdrop for this is a massive, brick built fortress, very grey, solid and imposing. There are two very tall towers to the left and right, each with a single narrow window at the top. Two slightly smaller, solid columns sit to the left and right of the entrance, a set of heavy wooden doors. Above the doors is a shield with the letter ‘f’ emblazoned on it. Four very neat, immaculately trimmed green trees sit on either side of the door. In the blue sky above puffy white clouds flit past.
When Farquaad is announced the fortress backdrop lifts away and behind it is the courtyard and the walls of Farquaad’s castle. To the far left and right are two narrow columns, each with a flag flying from it. Closer to the centre are two more columns, each with a long banner hanging down with the letter ‘f’ in gold. These two columns are linked by ramparts the width of the arched entrance door.
The tower where Princess Fiona is imprisoned is a classic fairy tale image. A pointed stone turret with a narrow window sits on top of a wider room still high in the clouds. This room has a wide window and a balcony upon which Fiona stands to read her books. The balcony has filigree metal work, finishing in a pretty heart detail right in the middle. Perched on the balcony are Fiona’s seven fairy tale princess puppets. They are soft fabric dolls with mouths that can be opened and closed to look like they are singing.
The whole tower is covered in climbing tendrils of thick plants. High in the sky, behind the top of the tower is an orange sun, and puffy white clouds are all around the high balcony. The colour of the sky changes during this sequence, from pink at first to purple and then red.
On the way to the fiery stronghold of the dragon, Shrek and Donkey walk together as the background behind them scrolls through different scenery. Some of it is rolling pastures and green fields and later the hot, dry svelte of Africa.
It changes slowly on the approach to the fiery Dragon’s keep, getting darker as Shrek and Donkey climb a small stair onto the rickety rope bridge. The bridge is narrow, just wide enough for one person. It has frayed ropes and wooden slats, through which come draughts of steam from below. The sky is fiery red, with puffs of dry ice lit red like hot lava steam.
Shrek and Donkey enter the dragon’s keep. It’s dark and close at first and then opens up when we see the four captured knights held in stocks. They stand upright with their heads and hands locked in a tight wooden brace. The scene is all dark and smoky with black and white bare brick glimpsed behind, and barred windows high above.
Next we visit Fiona’s messy room in the dragon’s keep. The high tower is visible in the background, outlined against the bare bricks of the keep. The bed is a wooden box with a thin mattress and pillow on top. It has tee shirts and a bra sticking out of the storage beneath.
Later, outside the keep, Fiona, Shrek and Donkey are back in the woods. Now the space is more open. To the left and right angled struts curve out onto the stage, like the trunks of big, green trees. In the background, behind a lattice of creepers, is a huge, orange sun in a blue sky that darkens as the scene progresses. There are tall, rugged cliffs far away, and a web of thick, uneven tendrils overlays the mountains and the sun.
Later, Shrek and Donkey talk alone. They are closer to the cliffs which now loom in the background. Rising behind the cliffs is a massive full moon in a dark sky with pin pricks of starlight.
In the second act the colours are all brighter and lighter, and the woods are more open and airy. The cabin that Fiona finds is another story book classic. It has a high pitched roof and is built from small cobble stones and thick wooden beams. The image of the cabin is printed onto a thin, translucent gauze that can be lit so we can see Fiona inside the cabin.
The cathedral has a raised altar in the middle of a shiny, polished floor. Looming above everything at the back of the stage is a huge, arched, leaded glass window. At the peak of the arch is a circle of leaded glass with a ring of stars around the outside and a big five pointed star in the centre of the circle.
The final scene is back in Shrek’s swamp.
CHARACTERS AND COSTUMES
There is a large cast of characters, with twenty-two actors who sing, dance and perform in the show.
Four lead actors play the main characters of SHREK, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and the Donkey throughout the show. The other actors all play more than one role, - guards, fairy-tale characters and puppeteers. Four are dancers/ singers.
SHREK, the friendly Ogre hero is played by Stefan Harri. Shrek has green skin and is built up to be larger than life, almost 7 feet tall, with large hands. His head is large round and bald with a rounded nose and chin. His two ears, shaped like small trumpets, sit out like antennae on each side of his head. He wears a knee length light brown robe, made of rough woven fabric, with long sleeves, and a short crocodile-skin waistcoat. A wide leather belt sits below his large belly, and his very bowed legs are clad in red and blue tartan trousers. Heavy brown laced boots with thick soles increase his height and complete his outfit. Shrek likes to scare people, but not harm them.
PRINCESS FIONA is played by Amelia Lily. She is slim, with a heart–shaped face, wide smile and expressive eyes. Her auburn wavy hair is worn in a single thick plait which hangs down her back to her waist. A diamond tiara sits neatly on her head, and a string of diamonds adorns her elegant neck. She wears a full length skirt made of green patterned velvet, with an overall small print. Fiona also wears a neat dark green long sleeved velvet waistcoat, laced at the front. The neckline is scooped, and the sleeves are close-fitting. Her shoes are green, with a small heel.
The part of LORD FARQUAAD is played by Samuel Holmes . Farquaad is youthful, with shoulder –length straight thick black hair, dark eyebrows and he has a clean shaven face. This character, Lord Farquaad, initially appears to be of small stature, but this is quickly recognised as an illusion, as the actor performs in costume on his knees, with a pair of thin little legs attached from his waist down. He wears a blue and red tunic, with diamond shaped panels at the top, and a striped skirt, worn over yellow striped leggings and red leather boots with a blue cuff. The tunic sleeves have yellow and blue slashed panels and blue gauntlet gloves. He wears a red and blue solid circular hat. His full trailing cloak, which hides his real legs, is also patterned with diamond shapes. His outfit is adorned all over with glittering beads and sequins that reflect the lights as he moves around. He also appears in a similar red and gold patterned tunic, with a long matching cloak.
The DONKEY is played by Marcus Ayton. The Donkey appears in a close-fitting body costume of textured grey fabric, with padded thighs, buttocks, and arms, and large grey hooves on his hands and feet. The bodysuit is darker grey from the knees down. His hair is black and bushy and a mane made of short black fabric loops runs from the top of his head right down his neck and along his spine, ending in a tail. Two large pale grey ears sit firmly upright on his head. His face has white markings across his forehead and down his nose.
There are fourteen fairy tale characters who appear together as a group in the show.
Other characters in order of appearance:
MAMA OGRE, Shrek’s mother, is played by Jennifer Tierney. She is large, green skinned and her antenna-like ears peek through her brown hair. She wears a long tweed patched skirt and brown blouse. Jennifer also plays MAMA BEAR (one of the fairy-tale characters) when she wears a padded brown bear suit, skirt and top, with woolly hat, bear ears and a black bear’s nose.
PAPA OGRE is played by Kevin Yates. He is very tall, and padded to look heavily built, and wears baggy trousers and a loose brown tunic. He has dark hair, green skin and trumpet shaped ears, like Shrek. Kevin also plays PAPA BEAR , dressed in a dark brown woolly coat worn over brown woolly trousers, and a woolly hat, bear ears and a woolly beard. He also plays a KNIGHT dressed in metal armour with a body corset, metal arms and legs protection and a round flat topped metal helmet. The Knights carry swords.
The KING ( Fiona’s father) is played by Michael Carolan. He appears in a knee length purple velvet robe, and wears a large crown. He also plays the WOLF, dressed in a full length blue flowery padded dressing gown, with a lace collar, worn over his wolfskin suit. He wears a wolfskin hat, with ears. Michael also plays THELONIUS a Torturer for Lord Farquaad. In that role he wears a short tunic of chain mail, over grey leggings and boots. His head is completely covered with a hood, with only his eyes visible.
THE QUEEN ( Fiona’s mother) is played by Laura Wilson. She wears a long shimmering blue velvet gown and a gold crown. She later appears as the Wicked Witch, and wears an outfit with a black net full skirt, dotted with a gilt spiders web markings,a bright orange bodice, black net gloves, long black net cape and multi-coloured pointy witches hat. She carries a colourful broomstick She later appears as one of the THREE BLIND MICE,( from the nursery rhyme characters.) The Three Blind Mice appear as female singers, dressed identically in short white wigs, wearing short pink silky evening dresses, white fur jackets, pink tights and white shoes. They wear large white mouse ears, black sunglasses and carry white canes.
A group of VILLAGERS appear, all dressed in simple similar outfits, with long skirts or dresses for the women, with tunics , trousers and boots for the men- all in shades of brown or dull orange.
Will Hawksworth plays the CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS. He wears the shining metal armour of a guard with a full breast-plate, shoulder panels, cod-piece and armour on arms, thighs and lower legs. On his head he wears a circular, flat-topped headpiece. He carries a very long sword. (This outfit is basically the same for all the Guards) Will Hawksworth also plays The PIED PIPER . For this character he wears a soft brow tunic, edged with yellow trim, over a yellow shirt and brown trousers tucked into his boots. He wears a yellow cap, with a feather in it, and a peak that covers his eyes.
Reece Kerridge plays one of the THREE LITTLE PIGS. Each of the Little Pigs is a huge figure. They have full padded stomachs, behinds and legs, with belts and braces to hold up their wide girth. Each wears a large pigs nose, ears, feet and curly tails. They are each dressed in various shades of pink, with pink stripped trousers, shirts and patterned jumpers.
Adam Taylor plays one of the THREE LITTLE PIGS. Each of the Little Pigs is an imposing figure. They have full padded stomachs, behinds and legs, with enormous belts and braces to hold up their wide girth. Each wears a large pigs nose, ears, feet and curly pig’s tail.
PINOCCHIO is played by Joseph Dockree. Pinocchio is a wooden puppet, with a long wooden nose, and he wears short blue trousers, a white shirt, yellow leggings, red shoes and a straw hat. Joseph also plays a Knight and is a puppeteer for the DRAGON.
There is a small flat puppet character for the GINGERBREAD MAN, which is carried on a board by another character- either a guard in the torture chamber or by one of the fairytale characters.
RED RIDING HOOD is played by Sarah- Louise Jones. She is dressed all in red- from her bright scarlet cap worn over curly hair, to her knee-length red silky dress and cape, and red dancing shoes.
The FAIRY GODMOTHER is played by Lucinda Shaw. The Fairy Godmother wears a calf-length lilac dress, with a full circular ruffled skirt and tight bodice, with fairy wings attached. She has grey laced up boots. Her silver grey hair is piled up on her head into a cone shape and she carries a purple wand. Lucinda is also the DRAGON.
Sophie Wallis plays the part of the UGLY DUCKLING. She wears a fluffy padded outfit, in mottled brown and grey with stripped leggings, and large webbed orange feet. On her head she wears a fluffy hood, with an orange beak as a cap.
PETER PAN is played by Sam Stones . Peter Pan is dressed in a short tunic made from large green leaves, worn over green tights. He has thick vivid blue hair, worn swept back off his face. He carries a lantern. Sam is also a puppeteer for the Dragon.
BABY BEAR is played by Francesca Williams. She wears a brown furry bear suit, with trousers, long woolly socks, a jumper and scarf, and a hat with bear ears and a black nose. Francesca also plays one of the 3 Blind Mice.
The part of the SUGAR PLUM FAIRY is played by Jemma Revell. This fairy is dressed in a ballet tutu, with a stiff pink sparkly net skirt, a pink laced bodice and a pair of fairy wings. Her blond hair is piled high on her head, and she carries a pink wand. Jemma also voices the Gingerbread man puppet. Jemma is also one of the 3 Blind Mice singers.
Adam Baker plays one of the LITTLE PIGS, padded out and dressed in pink. He also plays the BISHOP, in the cathedral scene, wearing a golden robe and bishops mitre hat. He is also a dragon puppeteer.
Several of the cast play the parts of the DULOC DANCERS , citizens of Duloc, dressed in vivid red and blue soft plastic outfits. These outfits consist of short flared knee length skirts with contrasting tops- red skirt/blue top or blue skirt/red top worn with red or blue plastic tights and shoes. The male and female dancers also wear red or blue kneepads and yellow plastic hair caps.
The DRAGON is a key beautiful character in the show. The dragon is very large, and held floating aloft on tall rods by 4 puppeteers. The puppeteers are dressed in black leggings, tops and close fitting caps to be as invisible as possible. The Dragon’s body and tail is built with a light flexible frame which allows it to be carried as if walking, and to bend and turn and swoop across the stage. Its body frame is covered in a billowing silky fabric with pink scales all over, and with golden scales on its underbelly. The Dragon has wings that can be extended, and rigid scales along its spine and tail. The head is very large, with small horns and a wide mouth that opens to reveal sharp white teeth. Its large yellow eyes light up and have a slit pupil and moveable eyelids with long eyelashes that can open and close and flutter expressively. The dragon is inflated slightly and floats above the stage. As the lighting changes colour, the dragon appears to become green or red. In the final scene of the show, the dragon appears as a beautiful woman dark-haired and dressed in a tight shiny pink dress. When she turns around her shapely tail on a light frame moves behind her, reminding us that she is a dragon.
