Shrek - Koorliny Arts Centre

Reviewed by Kate O'Sullivan

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Koorliny Arts Centre’s Shrek the Musical is a joyful, vibrant production that embraces the story’s big-hearted goofiness with style and confidence. Playing to well-deserved capacity crowds, this community theatre staging looks and feels like a large-scale show, filled with colour, energy and plenty of charm. With a cast of 26 and an impressive design team behind them, the production delivers a hugely entertaining night out that leaves its audience smiling.

The production unfolds on a beautifully decorated set designed by Sam Knox, with large scenic pieces helping establish each new location. Supported by dramatic lighting from Ali Mack, the world of Duloc and beyond feels well constructed. A couple of set changes were less smooth on the night, but these were small moments in an otherwise well-managed technical operation. Costuming is fairy tale cheese at its best—full of texture, colour and clever detail. Makeup, hair and wigs elevate the visual storytelling even further, particularly for Shrek’s prosthetics, which create a picture-perfect ogre. The one character who felt under-realised visually was Dragon, whose simple dress lacked the scale and wonder the scene demands.

The cast, many of whom take on multiple roles, bring a sense of fun and enthusiasm to every cameo. In the title role, Daniel Burton is a wonderfully endearing Shrek. His vocals are strong and he finds humour in Shrek’s dry bluntness. At times, extending that “grumpy” energy further into his physicality could enhance the characterisation, though the prosthetics and costuming understandably impose limits. As his loyal sidekick Donkey, Bailey Bridgeman-Peters delivers a delightful performance—high energy, charismatic and genuinely funny without tipping into excess. He captures the spirit of the original character without imitation, and the audience adored him for it.

Ciara Taylor’s Princess Fiona is sung with absolute confidence and beauty; her vocal work is outstanding. There were moments, however, where the acting energy dipped when she wasn’t speaking or singing. Maintaining consistency in character focus will help the role feel even more fully realised. “I Know It’s Today”, with the "younger" Fionas was one of the evening’s highlights—warm, witty and impressively delivered.

Mark Thompson is a standout as Lord Farquhad, dancing and even running on his knees at astonishing speed. He nails the comedic tone of the role with precision and flair. Across the ensemble, the choreography is performed with enthusiasm and strong commitment, contributing greatly to the show’s upbeat momentum. There are a couple of moments where the stage felt less full than it might need to for the story being told - in "Morning Person" for example, but these are minor quibbles overall.

Koorliny Arts Centre has long been known for high-quality community theatre, and this production continues that tradition with heart and spectacle. Despite a few small areas for refinement, Shrek the Musical is a lively, joy-filled experience with impressive performances, clever design choices and a clear sense of fun. It’s no surprise audiences are packing the theatre—this is community theatre done big, done boldly, and done with a whole lot of love.

Reviewer Note: Kate has worked with members of this cast previously. Tickets for this review were provided by the theatre company.