Fun, love and adventure in the swamp: Shrek to be staged by KZN’s Young Performers’ Project.
Milkwood Theatre, Danville: 25 April – 4 May
Love is green: Shrek the Musical will be the first production for 2025 to be staged by the Young Performers Project, coming to the new Milkwood Theatre in Durban North from 25 April – 4 May.
YPP is the brilliant musical theatre youth initiative started in 2001 to nurture aspirant young “triple threat” performers.
Shrek the Musical will be staged at the eagerly-anticipated brand new 290-seater Milkwood Theatre in Danville School in Durban North from 25 April – 4 May. Shrek will be the first non-school, outsider hire production to utilise the new theatre.
Shrek is the delightful, charming and hugely funny West End musical adaptation of the Dreamworks smash hit film. Lyle Buxton played the title role a decade ago and reprises his role as the professional performer in the 2025 staging.
The production team comprises Lisa Bobbert (director and set design); Evashnee Pillay (choreography); Des Govender (music direction); Anthony Govender (sound design) and Kathy and Dominic Singery (costumes, set and prop build).
Shrek will have cast of 35 performers – comprising senior primary and high school learners, as well as post-matric learners studying at the International School of Performing Arts (I.S.P.A.).
Alongside the adult Shrek (Lyle Buxton), the cast comprises James Armstrong (I.S.P.A) as Donkey; Chloe Marot (St Mary’s DSG) as the adult Fiona, and Damien Butt (I.S.P.A) as Lord Farquaad. YPP’s version sees three actresses playing Fiona – as a child, as a teen and as an adult; and two playing Shrek – a young Shrek and an adult Shrek. The cast has been chosen through an open audition process, held annually in October.
The story revolves around a contented introverted outsized ogre named Shrek who lives happily alone in a swamp. However, his solitude is disrupted when a frollick of disgruntled and anxious fairytale creatures who show up on his property after having been banished from the Kingdom of Duloc, on pain of death, by the evil, and vertically challenged, Lord Farquaad.
Irritated by having to share his calm and quiet swamp, Shrek journeys to meet Lord Farquaad intending to undo the banishment. On the road, he rescues an opinionated, talkative Donkey. Farquaad challenges Shrek and Donkey to rescue the Princess Fiona. The two unlikely companions set off to save the Princess…..
Young Performers Project has for the past 24 years staged an annual musical theatre show with a professional production team and a youthful cast (and at least one experienced industry performer every time) to provide the next generation of theatre practitioners with valuable experience of performing in a professional context.
“YPP is a structured programme designed to nurture performing arts talent from senior primary school level, to post matric and beyond,” explains YPP’s Des Govender. “Over the festive season, we staged the fun and fabulous Elf the Musical at the Durban ICC. We are delighted to open the year with Shrek – it is such a feel-good story loved by young and old. We are thrilled that Lyle Buxton is going to be our green friendly ogre, and we are so chuffed to be the first outside production at the new Milkwood Theatre. Our project is all about supporting each other’s initiatives, so we very consciously wanted to be part of the excitement and brave act of opening a brand-new theatre space,” she said.
Booking for Shrek the Musical is through Webtickets.
Good to Know:
Shrek, The Musical
Milkwood Theatre, Danville, Durban North
Fri 25 April: 2pm & 7pm
Sat 26 April: 2pm & 7pm
Sun 27 April: 2pm
Tues 29 April: 2pm
Wed 30 April: 7pm
Thurs 1 May: 2pm
Fri 2 May: 7pm
Sat 3 May: 2pm
Sat 3 May: 7pm
Sun 4 May: 2pm
Shrek!
