The Assembly Rooms on December 5th hosted the return of Swamplesque, a show so gloriously unhinged that it had already obliterated box office records at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. If you think you’ve seen it all, imagine Shrek in nipple tassels and Donkey gyrating in velour, and then realise: you’ve barely scratched the surface.
This ogre-themed burlesque and drag parody manages to toe the line between absurd brilliance and complete insanity. The show dives headfirst into the swamp of pop culture references, pulling out everything from Shrek is Love, Shrek is Life (a segment that will haunt me until I die) to a roller-skating Magic Mirror doing cartwheels to Man in the Mirror. Every number was laced with just enough chaos to keep the audience howling with laughter—or stunned into a delighted silence.
Having already wowed Fringe-goers earlier this year, the show’s return felt like a festive homecoming for its cult following. Audience members enthusiastically joined in, shouting lines from Shrek like it was a twisted panto. There was something oddly heartwarming about the communal joy of watching Princess Fiona belt out Nina Simone minutes after there has been a quite shocking intercourse scene between a dragon and a donkey.
Speaking of Fiona, Tash York’s powerhouse vocals elevated the entire production. Amid the glitter and gags, her performance added a touch of class—before being immediately undercut by Lord Farquaad stripping down to reveal, well, more than you ever wanted to see of Lord Farquaad.
The costumes were a fever dream of sequins, velvet, and inflatable pigs, all of which inevitably ended up on the floor. Highlights included Gingy’s Buttons striptease and the Dragon’s diva act, which walked the tightrope between camp and carnage with incredible flair. Shrek himself? Let’s just say the less clothing, the more disturbing the performance, which feels like exactly what they were going for.
If you missed Swamplesque at the Fringe, do yourself a favour: don’t make the same mistake twice. This Christmas, get yourself to the Assembly Rooms for a gloriously silly, scandalously fun night out. Go for the laughs, stay for the trauma—and leave with your Christmas spirit thoroughly shaken and stirred.
Playing until 5th January 2025, Swamplesque | Events | Assembly Festival
Reviewer: Nazaret Ranea
Reviewed: 5th December 2024
North West End UK Rating: