Audience members young and old got a real treat at the debut of Shrek the Musical at The Marlowe, with a seemingly impossible recreation of the classic animated film. All of the best jokes and moments were played out live, even with a dragon, a talking gingerbread man, and, of course, ogres.

The show’s storyline is (almost) a direct portrayal of the 2001 Dreamworks movie with a bit of singing, joking and tap-dancing thrown in for good measure. The green and odorous ogre Shrek (Steffan Harri) becomes an unlikely Prince Charming to rid his swamp of lovable intruders. Enlisting the help of the ever-energetic Donkey (Marcus Ayton), he rescues Princess Fiona (Amelia Lily) from a dragon-guarded tower. They fall in love on the way to Lord Farquaad (Samuel Holmes), who has promised to return his swamp if he brings her to him. After a series of miscommunications and close calls, “true love’s first kiss” arrives to bring the show to a finale.

This show employs stunning voices, incredibly realistic props and unrivalled costume and set design to create an enjoying and surprisingly believable performance. With such great songs as ‘What’s Up, Duloc?’, ‘Who I’d be’ and naturally ‘I’m a Believer’, the addition of music was a positive when it could easily have ruined the adaptation.

While the show was a fantastic, family-friendly descent into the heart-warming world of the green ogre, it seemed confused as to whether it was trying to be a pantomime, a serious adaptation or something out of Horrible Histories. While none of these things are bad per se, particularly not in a show aimed at children, a more clear direction in one particular way would improve the show’s effectiveness.

Steffan Harri deserves recognition just for taking the role: the costume and makeup take two and a half hours to put on every day. He has previously said in an interview with Eastern Daily Press that the suit weighs about 40 lbs and temperatures inside it can reach 37°C. This makes his authentic characterisation all the more astounding. Proving that ogres really do have layers, Harri’s emotional range started angry and stubborn, ending with a truly changed man who the audience both sympathise with and root for.

Marcus Ayton, playing Donkey, channelled well the bubbly sassiness of the long-eared chatterbox. While the scene of his and The Dragon’s (voiced by Lucinda Shaw) first encounter was excellent, it was only in the second act that he truly got across Donkey’s playful side. Amelia Lily was in fantastic voice, while also delivering the multitude of sides to Fiona’s character. Feminine and independent, she played the famously lovable character brilliantly.

But the real star of the show was the production itself. No expense was spared in the set design, lighting and props. Backdrops lit from behind perfectly conveyed the time of day, location and the mood of the scene. Inflating and exploding birds, a singing and moving Gingy and a magical book that actors’ heads smash through to start the show. There is even a full-size fake horse which made one young girl in the audience ask loudly whether it was a real one. The musical has smashed the technical side, creating a world you can truly believe and get lost in even as an adult. Pure magic!

And that isn’t to mention the costumes. With the original 2008 Broadway cast winning a Tony Award for best costume, this touring production have a lot to live up to. But they have nothing to fear as they’ve managed to pull off the impossible: creating apparently wooden clothes for Pinocchio (Joseph Dockree), perfectly recreating the executioner’s intimidating outfit and shortening Samuel Holmes while keeping Farquaad devilishly well-dressed. I feel that without the precision of the costumes was one of the biggest factors making this a great film-to-stage adaptation, which is very rare indeed.

The true show-stealer has to be the enigmatic Lord Farquaad. Unlike some of the other cast members, his comedic timing is spot on with a uniquely fantastic use of facial expressions and gestures. His breaking the fourth wall is by far the most effective and it’s possible he’s an even better Lord Farquaad than the film version. Truly a stunning performance both vocally and physically.

Overall, the musical is well worth checking out. While it’s not as deep as Les Misérables or as musically-orientated as Phantom of the Opera, it’s perfect for children and to just unwind. Great performances all round are polished off by the unmatched technical sourcery throughout the performance. If you’ve always wanted to visit Duloc and get closer to the best-known ogre in the world, I’d recommend you pop down to The Marlowe for the best chance you’ll ever have.

* Shrek the Musical is at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury until Sunday, July 22. Tickets from £13.75. For more information marlowetheatre.com