Shrek is love, Shrek is life.. and Shrek is the inspiration for the burlesque and drag parody Swamplesque. The show mixes comedy and cabaret with beautiful costuming (when it stays on) and flawless makeup. After taking Australia by storm the show will be coming to the Edinburgh Fringe this August.
Hi Henny! Tell us about Swamplesque!
Swamplesque is a burlesque and drag parody of a certain fairytale flick about an ogre, a donkey and a really fabulous redhead! Much like the film, it started with a group of misfits on a mission, but our mission was to show the world how to get into OGRE-DRIVE! Swamplesque is a fusion of burlesque, drag, comedy and cabaret in a way that can only be seen to be believed. We have strived to consistently show real people with real talent, the cast is packed with masters of their arts who were told for one reason or another that they were not too little, but rather too much.
Swamplesque is a celebration of camp, queer culture and most importantly the swamp! We’re one of Australia’s finest exports and after working our tails off for years touring Australia, we finally get to peel back all of our layers for the beautiful people of Edinburgh Fringe!
What impact did the film have on you growing up?
Growing up Shrek was a never-ending presence! Something about the first film obviously clicked for the world as there is literally a Shrek 5 in the works! For myself as a child, I remember watching the transformation scene with Fiona at the wedding so intently. She was beautiful and she was loved exactly how she was; it was the first time in my life I had seen someone that wasn’t “perfect” receive that kind of love.
It’s moments like this scene which make the original film such an important presence in my childhood and I’m sure many others’ childhoods too. Shrek may have been intended for a younger audience, but the film never dumbs down what it wants to say. There is a place for everyone no matter how different you are; they can send you away, banish you to the swamp for being a talking donkey, lock you in a tower and throw away the key, but you will always find your way and you will always find love.
How did you develop the Swamplesque world?
The world of Swamplesque absolutely is an ever-changing entity. The show jumped from its original performance to 90 people in a comedy venue above a bar in Perth in early 2020 to doing 1500 seat performances to sold out crowds in Sydney only a few years later.
However, the bones of the show have always stayed the same. The show has been developed as both a love letter to the Ogres but also to the art forms of burlesque and drag. The original film’s pop culture references allow for fabulous modernisations and consistent changes because the message of the film is timeless. There have been so many versions of Shrek popularised through memes and media (millennials will of course remember the infamous “Shrek is love, Shrek is life”) that allows the characters themselves to be really fun to play with and are extremely adaptable to any song or situation they find themselves in.
What personal touches did/do the performers add to the characters to make them come alive?
Translating an animated film to stage is always a big task but it allows you to take big chances! All of the acts in the show were created for the characters by the cast member who plays them – this allows for different versions of the characters based on what the cast loves the most about them. Whether it be their iconic lines or something as simple as a glance, each cast member has taken the time to realise what makes these characters so memorable and added that special Swamplesque twist!
For myself as a dragged-up version of the beloved Donkey, it is an absolute delight taking those iconic lines and being able to reimagine the character through my own creative lens, using costuming and (absolutely flawless) makeup but still remaining true to the comedy roots that were formed by Donkeys before me. However, the best example in our show is the absolutely amazing Rainbow as Lord Farquaad. Rainbow, day to day, is not a height challenged middle aged ruler of a kingdom far far away who’s absolutely desperate for love, but the second the stage light hits her, that’s who she becomes. The glint in Rainbows eyes as Farquaad is one of my favourite parts of the show, and when you see it, you’ll know why.
Is the Shrek franchise something you think all of Gen Z should watch?
Honestly I’d be shocked to learn that anyone in Gen Z hadn’t seen the Shrek franchise. As such a cultural juggernaut, I think it would be impossible to miss. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t see mention of Shrek, Donkey, Farquaad or the absolutely incredible ‘Holding Out for a Hero’ cover by the Fairy Godmother in the somehow even more impressive Shrek 2.
The Shrek franchise has lasted the test of time because it is simply that good! I’m excited to get tickets to see the next film but in the meantime, I guess you’ll have to quench that excitement with a ticket to Swamplesque!
Swamplesque will be performed at 10.20pm in Assembly Hall (Main Hall) from 1st – 25th August (Noy 12th or 19th)
Booking link: https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/589-swamplesque