Shrek The Musical- A chat with Dean Chisnall

When you are a West End and touring performer, there are a list of different parts you may aspire to.

But is it a 6ft 5in green-faced ogre a dream part? Well, it certainly is for Dean Chisnall who is taking on the role of Shrek in the smash-hit UK tour which is heading to Norwich Theatre Royal.

Prior to donning the costume and persona of the grumpy ogre who finds the true meaning of friendship and love, John Bultitude caught up with Dean to find out what it is like playing a character beloved by millions.

There is no doubting the dedication that Dean Chisnall has when it comes to playing Shrek in the lavish larger-than-life musical based on the hit animation.

It takes him around two-and-a-half hours to transform himself into the green-faced grump with a heart of gold and he loves every minute of being part of one of the biggest shows on the touring circuit.

Having a part in the show touring the UK is a far cry from his early life growing up in a village a few miles from Ormskirk in Lancashire. “I’ve really got no idea how I got into this business. When you are growing up in Lancashire, one of the popular things to do was pantomime with the local village group. I did a bit of singing but nothing that I ever thought would lead to a career,” said Dean.

But his flair for performing led him to London and he was fortunate enough to win a place at the prestigious Arts Ed School in Chiswick. His career continued on an upward trajectory as he was offered a part in the ensemble of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Woman In White before he had even finished drama school, which was an enviable position to be in. As Dean said, “Getting into the ensemble of a West End show for your first job is success in itself. Just working in this industry can be classed as success.”

From there, he moved on to Evita and then he took on the ‘Gary Barlow character’ in the Take That musical Never Forget which was a role he really enjoyed, but for the last four-plus years, Shrek has been a big part of his life. He originally joined the West End cast in March 2011 doing 12 months as understudy before taking on the lead role a year later. After a short break, he was then back with the show on tour.

And, as well as the singing and dancing, one of the most intense parts of the show is that long period in the make-up chair before the curtain goes up on each show. Dean explained: “Shrek has the most detailed make up in musical theatre history, even more so than The Phantom of the Opera. At first, it is a bit freaky. It is daunting but you eventually just zone out and the make up just becomes part of the process. The fact is that I start work about two and a half hours before curtain up and I don’t finish until 10pm.

“After the show, by the time I have got from my dressing room to the stage, I have ripped the entire face and head off because it comes off quickly enough. The makeup girls take off the gluey and gunky bits which take about 20 minutes. It is such a relief especially on a two show day because it all has to stay on from 11am until 10pm.

“It is quite claustrophobic when you first put it on. The only thing that is still you, once the process is completed, is your eyeballs and your lips. Every other part of your skin is covered in the silicon. You feel very detached from the world. If you think about it too much, it becomes very scary.”

With the show taking to the stage at Norwich Theatre Royal on June 9-28, the hot summer weather (if the city is graced by any) could make Dean’s temperature rise inside the costume and under the silicon mask, but he is prepared. “We opened this tour on the hottest week of the year in 2014 right in the middle of a heatwave. You can’t take the head off in the interval or the costume off because it takes too long. I drink about 8 litres of water during the show alone. That gives an idea of how hot it is. It can be even more than that in the summer.

“It isn’t remotely glamorous but it is a really nice job to have. I know thousands of people who would want to do it and I am very fortunate to have it. I remind myself of that on a day when it is very hot.”

While Shrek is beloved by a young audience, Dean said the broad appeal of the show is also strong with people from eight to eighty all enjoying it. “Everyone can relate to it. Even my grandparents know what it is. They have great grandchildren so they know what it is about.

“Everybody also knows deep down that Shrek is a good soul. It is a love story at the end of the day.”

If you haven’t booked yet, come along to enjoy a true West End spectacle and the chance to enjoy a feel-good story, whatever your age.

Photo credit: Norwich Theatre Royal

Listing:

Shrek The Musical, Tuesday 9-Sunday 28 June. Performances on Tuesday-Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 2.30pm and 7pm, and Sunday at 1pm and 5pm EXCEPT Thursday 25 June at 2.30pm only and Sunday 28 June at 1pm only. Please note there are no Monday performances. Tickets £8-£45. Discounts for Friends, Corporate Club, Over-60s, Under-18s, Schools and Groups. Signed Performance on Saturday 20 June at 2.30pm. Audio-described performance on Saturday 20 June at 2.30pm. Captioned performance on Thursday 25 June at 7pm.

To book, log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000.