Nigel Lindsay will have to get used to feeling a little green at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next year as he takes on the role of Shrek in the forthcoming musical adaptation which opens in May 2011.
Lindsay is joined by his former Guys And Dolls co-star Nigel Harman who will play Lord Farquaad. The duo joins the previously announced Amanda Holden and Richard Blackwood as Princess Fiona and Donkey respectively.
The show’s newly cast lead is a regular on the London stage, with credits in Under The Blue Sky at the Duke of York’s, The Pillowman at the National Theatre and, most recently, Sucker Punch at the Royal Court earlier this year. Before taking on the role of Shrek Lindsay will be seen in Broken Glass at the Tricycle theatre this autumn.
Harman starred with Lindsay in the cast of Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly theatre in 2005, when they replaced original leads Ewan McGregor and Douglas Hodge. Previously, Harman was best known for playing Dennis in TV soap EastEnders, but after Guys And Dolls he went on to appear on the London stage in The Caretaker, The Common Pursuit, Public Property and Three Days Of Rain. His television work also includes Hotel Babylon and Plus One.
Commenting on the casting, Shrek producers Bill Damaschke and Caro Newling said: “We were already thrilled that our dream of bringing Shrek The Musical to London was coming true, but to do so with a cast led by these charming, funny and incredibly talented actors has exceeded our expectations. Nigel, Amanda, Nigel and Richard all blew us away with their audition performances and we knew that we had found our new London Shrek family! Our search continues for the further 28 cast members who will bring the original Shrek story to life on the Theatre Royal Drury Lane stage.”
Based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book and the Oscar-winning animated 2001 film, Shrek The Musical follows swamp-dwelling ogre Shrek on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. With the help – and hindrance – of a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero must fight a fearsome dragon and rescue Princess Fiona.
Shrek The Musical played on Broadway from December 2008 to January 2010, receiving eight Tony Award nominations.
The new London production opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 7 June, with previews beginning in May. Tickets go on sale on 1 October for the initial booking period to 19 February 2012.
CB