theatre and tonic ★★★★
There’s something deliciously inevitable about Swamplesque, the gloriously absurd Shrek-themed burlesque that has shimmied its way onto the stage. Created by Australia’s award-winning burlesque star Trigger Happy, this production is exactly what you’d hope for—and then some. A riotous collision of drag, striptease, and shameless nostalgia, it delivers an hour of unapologetic fun that celebrates both DreamWorks’ iconic ogre and the liberating spirit of burlesque.
From the moment the lights dim, the show commits to its premise with gleeful abandon. Shrek himself kicks things off by shedding layers (yes, down to a thong), setting the tone for what follows: a parade of beloved characters reimagined through sequins, sass, and skin. Donkey shimmies in velour, Gingy the Gingerbread Man vogues to the Pussycat Dolls’ Buttons, and the Man in the Mirror (complete with a jaw-dropping aerial sequence) is pure spectacle. The costumes alone are a triumph—mirrored panels, lush velvets, and green sequins galore—each piece a loving homage to the source material before being (inevitably) shed with theatrical flair.