Youth theatre ogre-joyed

NEXUS Bendigo Youth Theatre is ready to hit the public stage for the first time in over two years, presenting Shrek The Musical at the Capital Theatre from Thursday, 21 July to Saturday, 30 July.

The show is the amateur theatre company’s first since Oliver!, which was cancelled last year, two weeks before opening night, and performed only to the cast and crews’ families.

Nexus producer and assistant director of Shrek, Julie Lovell, said the whole company is excited to finally get back on stage.

“This show is so vibrant and full of energy and has such a great theme that we want to get out to the community; about being who you are and about making sure we reconnect as people,” she said.

“It’s an important show, so the kids are really excited.”

The musical is based on the Dreamworks film Shrek, its sequels, and the 1990 book written by William Steig.

It follows the main character, ogre Shrek, and his quest to free fairytale “freaks” from his swamp.

Leroy Miller plays the titular character, with budding theatre stars Jade Cuskelly and Abe Geyer taking on the roles of princess with a secret Princess Fiona and loyal sidekick Donkey.

They are joined by four other leads, an ensemble of 33, and a three-metre dragon puppet.

Nexus is a volunteer-run organisation specifically for students in years 7 to 12 and teenagers on a gap year.

“We get to connect kids with other kids, but we also get to show them that having fun and building relationships means something to them,” Ms Lovell said.

“We get to show them that when they shine on stage it’s a reflection of what they can do in the community.”

Ms Lovell said there has been some crossover in the casts of Bendigo Theatre Company’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which closed last week and BTC Tribe’s Puffs, which opens in September, but the theatre companies have worked alongside each other with dates and supporting those involved.

“If we want to have kids excited about theatre this is what we have to do… we’re in communication with each other and it works really well,” she said.

For tickets to Shrek The Musical head to bit.ly/3NVZTBw.