Head down to the swamp this summer, at the Palace Theatre!

May 19, 2026

There’s a fairytale of talent stomping onto our stage at the Palace Theatre this August as the Summer Youth Project production of Shrek the Musical splashes into Southend.

Now in its 18th year, the Southend Theatres’ Summer Youth Project offers youngsters aged between 9 and 19 the opportunity to perform and produce a full-scale show, led by a professional Creative and Production Team. As well as a team of Alumni Assistants this year, sharing their experience and love for SYP with this year’s company. Auditions were held in April, where we joined by 220 young people, and a cast of 85 young performers were selected to take part in the production of this family favourite story of Shrek the Musical. Drawn from across Southend and further afield, our participants will create, learn and rehearse for 10 days in the summer holidays, followed by 4 days (5 shows) of performing to live audiences.

As well as the cast of performers, a team of 10 youth technicians will join the professional crew on the show, learning backstage skills, gaining practical experience, and understanding what it takes to get ours shows up and running.

Southend Theatres’ Creative Learning Manager, Emma Wagstaff said ‘The Summer Youth Project is always a highlight of the year and 2026 will be no exception. The standard of auditionees was higher than ever this year, and we are excited to see the end result of their hard work over the summer. The youth technicians too all impressed with their enthusiasm and commitment to the project. Bring on the swamp this summer!’

Shrek the Musical, based on the 2001 DreamWorks film and William Steig’s book, tells the story of Shrek, a solitary green ogre living in a swamp, content with his isolation. His peaceful life is disrupted when a group of fairy tale creatures, banished by the cruel Lord Farquaad, take refuge in his swamp. To reclaim his privacy, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad: he will rescue Princess Fiona, whom Farquaad wishes to marry, in exchange for the return of the creatures to their homes. On his journey, Shrek reluctantly befriends Donkey. Together, they navigate obstacles, including a fire-breathing dragon, to reach Fiona’s tower. Fiona, however, is not the typical princess Shrek expects; she harbours a secret curse that transforms her into an ogre at sunset, which can only be broken by true love’s kiss. The musical features humour, memorable songs, and a cast of vibrant characters, including Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, and the Dragon, highlighting themes of self-acceptance, friendship, and challenging societal norms.

Tickets for Shrek the Musical are on sale now. Join our incredible company, at the Palace Theatre this summer, celebrate their talent and enjoy a great show!

palacetheatresouthend.co.uk

Contact Centre: 0343 310 0030