Shrek the Musical on tour hits Norwich Theatre Royal this week and next – Jimmy and I went to press night last night to confirm it’s blooming brilliant!
The last time I saw Shrek the Musical was in London’s West End so the tour had big shoulders to match up to – yet match up it did! I took Jimmy as my date, my little big boy has been crying out for some one on one attention and do you know, it was one of the best things I could have done for us! Just time spent together with a dinner out at Ed’s Diner pre theatre (they have 50% off at the moment when you join their mailing list and that’s pretty much every week) and then an awesome show which had him smiling and dancing all the way through!
The show surprised me in lots of ways because though a much smaller stage at Norwich Theatre Royal compared to the last theatre I was at, there wasn’t any lesser sophistication in the set or production. The actors too were on a par with the standard I was familiar with and though I’d wondered if the American accents might have had a smidge less polish I was wrong to do so!
Amelia Lily (of X Factor and therefore unknown to me fame) was wonderful, funny and so engaging but for me it was Samuel Holmes who stole the show. His character of Lord Farquaad does have the best lines it’s true but it’s all in the perfectly delivered performance and he JUST had it – down to a T! I’d watch the show with just him in it and enjoy it as much I’m sure!
With all the bottom jokes and songs this was just the show for Jimmy and I can’t imagine any family wouldn’t love it just as much as we did. What was also really lovely was that at last night’s performance there were quite a lot of audience members with special needs and sometimes they called out to the characters on stage. The actors paused, almost engaged with them yet still without moving away from the show and then carried on. It was inclusive of the audience needs and I found that mesmerising. Well done to the company and an enormous cheer for Norwich Theatre Royal for being so welcoming to all – I also listened to the ushers helping people with difficulties to their seats and either some extremely special training has happened at the theatre or they simply employ exceptionally special people with the right qualities to be people facing. Either way bravo to them and bravo to the show!
Shrek the Musical is on tour now, see www.shrekthemusical.co.uk for tour dates and to book tickets. It’s at Norwich Theatre Royal from now until the 8th of July with daily evening performances as well as Saturday and Sunday matinees. Call the box office on 01603 630000 for Norwich seats.
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