Shrek The Musical JR, a reimagining of the much-loved, Academy Award-winning film Shrek, returned to Melbourne for a limited season at the Cripps Centre, St Kilda East, during the July school holidays. Presented by the Young Australian Broadway Chorus, the production delighted audiences with its hilarious characters, dazzling costumes, and show-stopping musical numbers, making it a standout school holiday experience.

The young performers’ adaptation of the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning Shrek The Musical, Shrek The Musical JRbrought together the music of Janine Tesori and the book and lyrics of David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the story and characters from William Steig’s Shrek! and the DreamWorks Animation film. Audiences were transported into Shrek’s world through the beloved story and vibrant performances that brought this classic to life once again.

The Young Australian Broadway Chorus, part of Stage School Australia, continued its tradition of high-quality productions, following recent seasons of Seussical (2023), Oliver! JR (2023), Spring Awakening (2023), CATS (2020), Les Misérables (2019), and Wicked (2018). Marking seven years since their first production of Shrek The Musical JR, this latest rendition was another triumph, with Stage Whispers previously praising their 2017 production as having “no weak links.”

The production was a huge success, with families and children of all ages filling the theatre, and it proved to be a memorable highlight of the school holidays. Shrek The Musical JR once again demonstrated the Young Australian Broadway Chorus’s ability to deliver unforgettable entertainment for all.