Behind the Swamp: StarCentral Goes Backstage at Shrek The Musical with Director Jeremy Hinman

Ever wondered what it really takes to bring a giant green ogre, a talking donkey, a fire-breathing dragon, and a kingdom of fairytale misfits to life on stage? Thanks to the generosity of director Jeremy Hinman, the StarCentral Magazine team was given exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Shrek The Musical at the Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ in Rooty Hill — and what we witnessed was nothing short of theatrical magic in motion.

From the outside, audiences see a colourful, high-energy musical filled with humour, heart, and spectacle. But behind the curtains lies a world of intricate preparation, creative teamwork, and astonishing technical detail that makes the impossible possible night after night.

Our backstage journey began in the makeup department, where we were introduced to Zac Parkes, who plays the title role of Shrek. Seeing the transformation process up close was fascinating. The iconic green face isn’t simply painted on — it involves a carefully crafted green mask, skilfully patched and blended into Zac’s skin with expert precision. Layer by layer, the character begins to emerge.

But the transformation doesn’t stop at the face.

To achieve Shrek’s towering, bulky appearance, Zac wears multiple layers of costume padding and clothing that add significant size and weight to his frame. Watching him step into the costume piece by piece gave us a whole new appreciation for the physical endurance required to perform in the role. It’s not just acting — it’s athletic, technical, and incredibly demanding.

From makeup, we moved into one of the most impressive elements of the production: the Dragon.

Up close, the dragon is even more extraordinary than it appears on stage. This giant puppet is brought to life by four highly skilled operators, each responsible for different movements to create fluidity, expression, and realism. The coordination required between the puppeteers is remarkable. Every wing flap, head turn, and body movement is carefully choreographed to ensure the dragon feels alive to the audience. Seeing this level of teamwork and precision behind the scenes was absolutely epic and a true testament to the production’s craftsmanship.

We also had the pleasure of meeting several cast members backstage, including the energetic and charismatic Iosia Tofilau, who plays Donkey. Off stage, Iosia is warm and welcoming, but once in costume, the transformation into the fast-talking, witty sidekick is immediate. His vocal preparation and physical warm-ups revealed just how much energy is required to maintain Donkey’s lively presence throughout the show.

One of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes revelations came from meeting Olly Humphries, who plays the hilariously over-the-top Lord Farquaad. Audiences see a comically short villain strutting across the stage, but what they don’t realise is the physical commitment involved. To create the illusion of Farquaad’s tiny stature, Olly performs on his knees for the entire show. His specially designed costumes are engineered to hide his legs while allowing him to move convincingly across the stage. Up close, the details of his wardrobe are extraordinary — elaborate, regal, and cleverly constructed for both visual impact and practicality.

Speaking of costumes, the wardrobe department is a spectacle in itself. Racks upon racks of vibrant outfits, fairytale attire, and elaborate designs line the backstage corridors. The wigs alone are a visual feast — styled, shaped and coloured to perfection to suit a huge range of characters from pigs and soldiers to witches, fairies and woodland creatures. Each wig is labelled, maintained, and prepped with care before every performance.

Then there’s the stage.

Standing on the Sydney Coliseum Theatre stage without the audience gave us a rare perspective on the scale of the set design. From sliding trees and castle components to towering backdrops and clever projections, every piece is designed for smooth transitions and maximum visual storytelling. Seeing the moving set pieces up close — including the shaky bridge over lava and the towering structures used for Fiona’s castle scenes — highlighted the incredible engineering behind the magic.

Jeremy Hinman shared insights into how all these elements come together. The pace of the show, the balance between comedy and heartfelt moments, and the seamless integration of puppetry, costume, lighting, and choreography are all carefully orchestrated. It’s a production that relies heavily on teamwork behind the scenes just as much as talent on stage.

What struck us most during the tour was how many people it takes to make Shrek the Musical happen. Beyond the principal cast, there is an entire army of crew members — makeup artists, wardrobe supervisors, puppeteers, stagehands, technicians and coordinators — all working in harmony to create a world that feels effortless to the audience.

By the time we returned to our seats to watch the show, we saw it through completely different eyes. Every costume change, every dragon movement, every exaggerated Farquaad walk, and every green-masked moment carried new meaning because we had witnessed the work behind it.

Shrek The Musical is not just a performance — it is a masterclass in theatrical collaboration, creativity, and craftsmanship.

A special thank you goes to Scott Broome of Black Sixteen Agency and Showcase Entertainment Group for granting StarCentral Magazine this incredible opportunity to step into the swamp from the other side of the curtain.

It’s safe to say we will never watch Shrek the same way again.