Shrek The Musical taking Derry by storm

The Shrek DVD - ask your grandparents kids - was almost worn out in our house back in the day the film was so loved.

Tuesday night’s staging of Shrek The Musical in Derry’s Millennium Forum rekindled those happy memories and amplified our delight in the tale, as only a live production has the power to do.

The dispossessed fairytale characters in Shrek The Musical.

By the end of the show, the Derry audience was on its feet, giving the Monkees’ smash hit ‘I’m a Believer’ lilty along with Shrek himself - Antony Lawrence. There may have been confetti involved.

What was evident throughout the musical was the sheer enjoyment of the young people in the audience, blissfully unaware, maybe, of the nuances adults would definitely appreciate. No spoilers but the sublime Lord Farquaad (James Gillan) subtly referenced Dick Emery at one point. 

And everyone likes a fart joke no matter what age they are.

We loved Joanne Clifton in Strictly Come Dancing - especially when she won the Glitterball in 2016 with Ore Oduba. As Princess Fiona, she was simply fantastic. 

Princess Fiona, Shrek and Donkey.

Everything about Shrek The Musical was fabulous - the singing, choreography, costuming, lighting, projection design, puppet design and sound. 

I would thoroughly recommend going along for a great evening’s entertainment. My personal highlights? Donkey (Brandon Lee Sears) - amazing - especially his duet with Dragon (Cherece Richards); the Pied Piper’s tap dancing rats; the puppetry - Gingy, clever and funny, and Dragon, graceful -  and last but not least, the three blind mice and Donkey channelling Barry White when Shrek and Fiona fall in love. 

That is not to mention the ensemble cast of dispossessed fairytale characters in Shrek The Musical fairly lifted the roof on the Millennium with Freak Flag.

Shrek The Musical continues at the Millennium Forum until Sunday, April 21. Telephone the Box Office on 71 264455 (option 1) or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for tickets.