Shrek The Musical Jr at Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival

We received tickets to Shrek The Musical Jr for the purpose of this review

Shrek The Musical Jr is such a fun and energetic show, the perfect start to the school summer holidays.

Featuring a cast of talented local young people from Go Productions, it’s part of Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival, the much-loved annual showcase of amateur and professional theatre, which has been running for more than 40 years.

We’ve been watching their annual family shows since my children were little and have seen a range of productions including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Seussical, and High School Musical. All of them are ‘Junior’ productions meaning they are abridged hour-long versions, condensing all the best bits into an action-packed family-friendly show.

And Shrek Jr is no exception.

Based on Dreamworks’ Oscar-winning smash hit film and the Broadway show, the stage production tells of loveable ogre Shrek, whose peace comes crashing down when his swamp is invaded by a gang of annoying fairytale misfits who have been banished by Lord Farquaad. In a bid to restore calm, Shrek makes a deal and sets off to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona, accompanied by his trust donkey. But there are twists and turns along the way, as Shrek finds love.

Rebecca Tongue is Fiona – we have loved following her career as a performer through the festival. In 2013 she played Young Alice in Alice in Wonderland and last year she was Miss Honey in Matilda with various other roles in between. Reuben Turpy, who last year played Miss Trunchbull returns this year as Shrek, suitably grumpy when needed but with great comedy timing too.

Charley Richards as Donkey is an absolute joy to watch. The part may have been made famous by Eddie Murphy in the animated film, but Charley more than makes it her own. She’s sassy, confident, really funny and with strong vocals to boot.

Scarlett Humphreys as Dragon is another young performer with an enigmatic stage presence. She shimmies around in pursuit of Donkey and when she sings, wow!

The cast of fairytale characters and narrators all have their moment to shine, delivering clear and confident performances, with special mention to Darcey Scullin as Pincchio and Neve Darlinton as Ginge, the Gingerbread man.

Looking through the cast list, it’s great to see so many familiar faces, some we remember seeing in smaller parts before, now getting the chance to shine in bigger roles. And proving that Go encourages professional development in all areas, Cadi Mullane, who we’ve seen in several performances, this year returns as Assistant Director and Choreographer. Along with Director and Choreographer Emma-Jayne Parker, leading her 10^th year at the festival, they have created a real visual treat. The dance numbers fill the stage with creative choreography and vibrant costumes. Even when it starts raining towards the end, the cast carry on without batting an eye lid. Other than a handful of colourful transparent ponchos, you’d never know. Thankfully for the audience, we’re all under cover in a specially-constructed auditorium with a roof which incidentally has the most beautiful backdrop of Bute Park.

It’s not too late to book, with tickets left for most performances, with two a day from Tuesday until Saturday.

Shrek The Musical Jr is at Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival, with performances continuing from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 July. Tickets are priced £15 per person or a family ticket is available for £52 admitting 4 people. Book online here.