RIYADH: Shrek The Musical,” based on the Academy Award-winning DreamWorks film series, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage in Riyadh. The show, which started on May 1, will continue until Saturday, May 13, as fans of the well-known films will be able to see the performance at The Arena Riyadh Venue. Director Nick Wilkinson said it is his third time in Saudi Arabia but the first time in Riyadh. “We did a show in Dammam and Jeddah and now this is our first time in Riyadh, which is the last stop of the tour,” Wilkinson told Arab News. “The story is about Shrek the ogre who doesn’t really have any friends and throughout the show, we get to learn about his insides, and he makes lots of friends throughout the play, and it’s about accepting people’s differences.” The Broadway Entertainment Group production features a fantastic score with 19 new songs, filled with humor, dance, and staging. “The Saudi audience are great, and each town is a bit different, but the theme of the show brings everyone together and everyone is enjoying it,” Wilkinson added. DreamWorks assembled some of the most celebrated, talented and slightly twisted creatives working on Broadway with David Lindsay-Abaire, Jeanine Tesori, Jason Moore and Rob Ashford at the helm. They turned to designer Tim Hatley for sets and costumes filled with vibrant colors and remarkable textures which all enhance the audience experience and bring the characters from the screen to life on stage. “We have a huge wardrobe, and it takes three hours before the show to get ready and Shrek has about two hours of makeup getting prostatic done and he actually has an ice fist inside to keep him cool so that is a lot of work,” Wilkinson added. Hatley went on to win the Tony Award for Best Costumes in 2009 for this production of the tale. Hermione Sparks, who plays the character of young Princess Fiona, came from New Zealand to perform. “My character is the little Princess Fiona, and she is a hopeful character stuck in her tower and hopes to be rescued by her prince charming, and this is my third time in Saudi, and I love Saudi — everyone is nice, and the food is so good, and the audience are so great and loud,” she commented. On the website shrekthemusicalinriyadh.com, tickets range in price from SR100 ($26.67) for general seating to SR500 ($133.33) for VIP. The show has been performed on stages throughout the UAE, UK, Ireland, Poland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. The kid-friendly musical made its Saudi Arabian debut in Jeddah at KAUST in March 2023 and at Ithra in January 2023. It served as the Middle East’s introduction to the musical before performances in Dubai and Kuwait.