Today at Haddo Musical Theatre School, our young performers stepped into the world of acting with one goal — to explore what it really takes to bring a character to life on stage. And what better source of inspiration than our next big production, Shrek – The Musical? 🐲👑
From the moment the workshop began, the room was buzzing with energy. We kicked things off by talking about the different attributes of acting in musical theatre — and then set about trying them for ourselves.
Facial Expression
The first thing we explored was how to use our faces to tell the story. Whether you’re playing a grumpy ogre, a cheeky donkey, or a fairytale character with a twist, your facial expressions are what connect you to the audience. We had a lot of fun exaggerating emotions, holding “freeze frames” of key moments, and experimenting with how even small changes can transform a scene.
Body Language & Movement
Next up, we worked on the way our bodies help tell the story. We talked about posture, gestures, and physicality — how Shrek’s stance might differ from Donkey’s bounce or Fiona’s elegance. The group discovered how movement can say just as much as words, especially when you’re working in a big theatre space.
Voice
A big part of musical theatre is knowing how to use your voice — not just for singing, but for speaking lines clearly, projecting to the back of the room, and giving each character their own unique sound. We played with pitch, pace, and tone, experimenting with ways to make each role instantly recognisable.
Teamwork
Finally, we focused on one of the most important aspects of theatre — working together. Acting is never a solo sport, and our workshop gave everyone the chance to listen, respond, and support each other on stage. Whether it was pairing up for scene work or joining forces for group improvisations, the cast quickly discovered that teamwork is what makes the magic happen.
By the end of the day, there were big smiles all round (and maybe a few Shrek-worthy belly laughs). Not only did our performers learn valuable skills for the stage, but they also got a taste of how much fun it can be to bring a story to life alongside friends.
With Shrek – The Musical now firmly on the horizon, we can already see the characters starting to take shape — and if today is anything to go by, this show is going to be one to remember.
💚 Bring on the swamp, the songs, and the sparkle — we’re ready!
