The Palace Theatre Summer Youth Project: Shrek The Musical Auditions

December 9, 2025

The Palace Theatre is pleased to reveal that 2026’s Summer Youth Project (SYP) will be Shrek The Musical. Open to young people aged between 9 and 19 with a passion for performing, cast auditions will be held in April.

The Summer Youth Project takes over the Palace Theatre for two weeks in the summer holidays. Young people get the chance to create the show and to perform to a live audience. Following the success of this year’s production, The Wizard of Oz, plans are well underway for 2026’s show which will be Shrek The Musical.

Involvement in the production is by audition. The auditions are free to attend but you must register to take part, ahead of audition day. The cast auditions take place on Sunday 26 April 2026.

There will also be opportunities for young people to join the technical youth team for the production. SYP Technical Youth Team interviews will take place Thursday 9 April 2026 at the Palace Theatre. More information on these can be found in the application form and audition pack which can be found on the theatres’ website:

www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk, under the Get Involved section.

SYP 2026 begins on Sunday 26 July and runs until Sunday 9 August at the Palace Theatre. Shrek The Musical performances take place from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August.

This year Auburn Group, the main contractor of the Cliffs Pavilion refurbishment project, are the Headline Sponsor for our 2026 Summer Youth Project. More information on Auburn Group can be found at www.auburngroup.co.uk

For any further information, please contact Emma Wagstaff, Project Producer and Creative Learning Manager on emmawa@southendtheatres.org.uk