Shrek The Musical, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 14 June, has announced its full cast, while former Holby City star Mark Moraghan is set to join Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical.
Though Shrek’s leading quartet of Nigel Lindsay (Shrek), Richard Blackwood (Donkey), Nigel Harman (Lord Farquaad) and Amanda Holden (Princess Fiona) has been public knowledge for quite some time, it is only now that the full roster of performers has been announced.
Among the recognisable names on the cast list are former Avenue Q stars Delroy Atkinson and Jacqui Sanchez, Emma Lindars who previously played one of Priscilla’s Divas, Never Forget’s Dean Chisnall and Alice Fearn, who played Rapunzel in the Regent’s Park Open Air theatre’s 2010 production of Sondheim’s Into The Woods.
The cast is completed by Amy Beadel, Stephanie Bron, Jon-Scott Clark, Ste Clough, Lee William-Davis, Ross Dawes, Lucie Downer, Michelle Francis, Ashley E Hale, Rosanna Hyland, Bradley Jaden, Aaron Lee Lambert, Grant Murphy, Spencer O’Brien, Landi Oshinowo, Damien Poole, Stuart Matthew Price, Jonathan Stewart, Leigh-Anne Stone, Lucy Tapp, Karli Vale and Michael Watson.
Shrek The Musical is based on the hit animated film featuring a grouchy, swamp-dwelling ogre whose life is changed when he embarks on an adventure to reclaim the deed to his land.
In another screen to stage musical adaptation, Moraghan is to replace Home And Away’s Ray Meagher as Bob the mechanic from 7 March in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical. He joins the production alongside Richard Grieve, who is replacing Ben Richards as Tick.
Moraghan, who played Owen Davies in BBC hospital drama Holby City for five years, also appeared in TV dramas Dream Team and Brookside. His previous stage credits include Our Day Out and Funny Money at the Royal Court Liverpool and, in 2009, he released his first album, Moonlight’s Back In Style.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, which also stars Don Gallagher and Oliver Thornton, tells the tale of two drag queens and a transsexual making a road trip across Australia in a battered old bus. With Olivier Award-winning costumes and an uplifting disco score, it is billed as a “sensational journey into the heart of fabulous”.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical is one of 18 long-running shows eligible for the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award. The public can vote for their favourite show to win at www.olivierawards.com.
MA