{"id":10405,"date":"2021-05-25T13:09:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T13:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiqets-blog-staging.local\/shrek-questions\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T09:03:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T09:03:45","slug":"shrek-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/shrek-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Shrek\u2019s Adventure! London Answers All Your Shrek Questions","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2013<\/em>\u00a0This post was written by\u00a0Mick Murray<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0\u2013<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is Shrek green? Is Shrek Scottish or Irish? How tall is Shrek? And what’s he like to work with?<\/strong>

These are some of the questions we put to Richard Quincey, Head of Performance for Shrek’s Adventure! London, a genuine expert on the topic of everyone’s favourite cuddly green ogre. Read on to discover the most fascinating facts about Shrek, answers to the internet’s most-searched Shrek questions, and for a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the UK’s most exciting and heartwarming family attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What’s life like at Shrek’s Adventure! London?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today<\/strong> \u2013 the first few questions are all about you! What is your role at Shrek\u2019s Adventure? What does this involve\/what do you do on a day-to-day basis?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I\u2019m Quincey – I\u2019m the Head of Performance for Shrek\u2019s Adventure. Basically I look after all of the shows, actors, and pretty much all of the fun stuff that our guests get to see. I help with writing the shows, the scripts, the characters, the direction\u2026 as well as hiring excellent talent who can bring it all to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the bits that makes the audience gasp, cry, scream, laugh\u2026 all of those things!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long have you worked here?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well I\u2019ve been with Merlin since 2001 \u2013 I started as an actor at the London Dungeon, and worked my way up from there! I became Head of Performance for Shrek\u2019s Adventure in 2015. It sits next to the London Dungeon and SEA LIFE London Aquarium on the South Bank \u2013 all under me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So anybody that does a show at the Dungeon, or does a talk on rays, or brings to life the Muffin Man or Princess Fiona \u2013 I\u2019m the one that\u2019s got to look after them!

The London Dungeon<\/a> is an amazing place too \u2013 that must have been an interesting start as an actor.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was! The beauty and, I say this a lot for the guys that we recruit now, is it\u2019s almost like that resident theatre, or repertoire theatre that died out – you know, learning your craft, being able to perform day in day out to potentially near-on 3,000 people. You wouldn\u2019t be able to perform that even if you were to take your own show to Edinburgh! Just to have that reaction from guests so often, it\u2019s a really good learning curve and it\u2019s something that the guys in the cast now across the sites really benefit from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And because you\u2019ve had that experience yourself, it must also mean you have a pretty good idea of what life is like for the actors?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it gives me a bit more credibility for my role – to have been on the front line, to have done those shows. I\u2019m never gonna ask the team to do anything that I don\u2019t think is possible, or isn\u2019t achievable, or is not real within the operational constraints. I think that does help in terms of having that creative while still being operationally sound kind of mind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you love most about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two sides of the coin for me – one is you\u2019ve got to love why you do it, which is the guests\u2019 reactions. That memorable experience, bringing those families together. The beauty of Shrek is multi-layered – so there\u2019s something there for the adults, the kids, there\u2019s an element of nostalgia for a lot of parents from what they remember from the films growing up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other side of that coin is working with talented actors, performers, and creatives day in day out – there\u2019s so many great team members I\u2019ve worked with and cast I\u2019ve worked with in the past where I just really thought \u201cwow, that\u2019s impressive what they\u2019ve done with that character\u201d or \u201cI love the way they\u2019ve portrayed that role.\u201d Being able to flip that coin from one side to the other on a daily basis really is a special job. It really is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shrek’s Adventure reviews and insider tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Some of the happy faces that may explain why Shrek’s Adventure! London gets so many five-star ratings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I had a look at the reviews on Tiqets for Shrek\u2019s Adventure<\/a> earlier – and the lowest rating I could find was four stars. It\u2019s almost unanimous five-star reviews.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s brilliant! That\u2019s great. In our business, there\u2019s always going to be subjectivity. People will always have different opinions – that\u2019s the beauty of theatre, of live performances – no two shows are gonna be the same. Even the same actor is going to have a different reaction from one group to the next – part of my role is trying to get that consistency across live performances, which is always difficult! But I love that that was the lowest rating – it proves that what we\u2019re doing is working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For you personally, if you had to pick one, what is your favourite part – or any specific moment – during the adventure? An unfair question!<\/strong>

I have to say, for me, it\u2019s probably Muffin Man. I think Muffin Man is the part where all of the ingredients and all of the adventure comes to a head. You\u2019re meeting a character that\u2019s really fun, really enjoyable to be with. You\u2019ve got Gingy (also known as the Gingerbread Man) in the room, providing a little bit of that Shrek magic; you\u2019ll have Donkey, who makes an appearance as well. I think it\u2019s a good, good show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there any hidden gems? Things that people might not necessarily notice or pick up on if they\u2019re not paying close attention?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the beauty lies in a lot of the sets. For a lot of them, the attention to detail that has been put in is really, really good. You could easily miss for example the three blind mice sunbathing in the lava pot! Again, if you\u2019re talking Muffin Man, it\u2019s things like the eyeball cakes that are in the set, hidden in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of that attention to detail – like an axe in the dartboard at the Poison Apple – all of that subliminally helps with the immersion, and helps you feel that you\u2019re getting lost in this world, into Far Far Away. You can never pick it all up in one journey – you\u2019ve really got to go around again to pick up on all of these hidden gems.
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A lot of people who read this might not have visited before. What tips do you have for first-time visitors?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteer! Throw your hand up, get involved. If you become part of that story, part of that adventure, you get more out of it. Ask a question to Princess Fiona; if you see Cinderella, ask her what her favourite shoe is apart from a glass slipper. The cast love it – yes, there\u2019s a script they need to follow, but because they know these characters so well, being able to do a little improvisation is great for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a friendly environment, and it\u2019s specifically designed to be interactive; designed to really get you to play your part in the adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best Shrek characters to meet at Shrek’s Adventure (and who to avoid)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Esmeralda and Shrek are some of the many colourful characters you’ll encounter!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Next, we have some more Shrek-specific questions. This next one is the question on everyone\u2019s mind: What is Shrek like to work with?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ha! Well, Shrek himself, he can be a bit high-maintenance. He likes things to be done in a certain way. Working with him, he\u2019s pretty tall – so he does need to duck a lot as he\u2019s walking through corridors and around the venue. You need to give him some space when he walks towards you, as he\u2019s a big fella. But he\u2019s definitely not a diva – he\u2019s still keeping it real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shrek usually gets all the praise, but the series has plenty of other amazing characters. Who is your favourite non-Shrek character and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think Princess Fiona. The beauty of Fiona for me is that unlike many other princesses that are out there, she\u2019s a badass! She can stand up for herself, she has a great view of the world and how it should be, and I think she\u2019s always the voice of reason. When you look at girl power, for me, Fiona is top of the league there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve also heard you have a soft spot for the Muffin Man. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do love the Muffin Man. He\u2019s genuinely got some great lines, and there\u2019s great humour in the show. I\u2019m a big fan of the Muffin Man. Again, that show brings everything together – it\u2019s a key part of the whole adventure. You can get some young kids who are a little bit scared of stepping forward and volunteering; sometimes they can be a bit daunted by some of the sets, or some of the actual story of the witches and Rumplestiltskin. But Muffin Man always puts them at ease, always reassures them, and can really bring a child to laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may have just mentioned him, but do you have a <\/strong>least <\/em><\/strong>favourite character? Is there a particularly dastardly villain?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it\u2019s gotta be Rumplestiltskin, the villain of the piece! But without a villain you wouldn\u2019t have a good story, so you do need the villain to play his part. He\u2019s certainly the rascal in our adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes him such an unpleasant figure?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it\u2019s certainly his relationship with the witches, not a positive one. He often gets them to do his work for him. The way he treats people, speaks to people\u2026 very unpleasant and very rude! There\u2019s no fee for good manners, and he doesn\u2019t have any of them.
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Why is Shrek green? The internet’s top Shrek questions, answered<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Pictured: A stylish pair of green Shrek Ears.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Next, we\u2019ve rounded up the internet’s top questions about Shrek. Let’s see if we can get some answers from an expert! First up: why is Shrek green?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it has to do with the swamp that he lives in – if you\u2019ve been brought up in a swamp and take mud baths, you certainly won\u2019t be a nicer colour than green, that\u2019s for sure! 

The second-most popular question that people ask is this: why is Shrek so good?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is that nostalgia with Shrek – I think it\u2019s been around 20 odd years since the first Shrek film. You do have that nostalgia factor for a lot of adults now who think \u2018\u2019Ah, this was important for me when I was growing up\u201d and now want to share it with their children. I remember these films and laughed along with them – but certainly for a family to come, there’s the fun and laughs that an adult can have that can go over the kids\u2019 heads, and there\u2019s some fart jokes in there that the kids can certainly laugh at and get a giggle going. It does kind of appeal to all ages still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, we have a very specific question: How tall is Shrek?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s taller than me and I\u2019m 6\u20193, so he\u2019s quite tall! He does need to duck as he goes through some corridors. He\u2019s going on 7 foot plus at the minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Shrek Scottish or Irish?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A healthy mix of both! He\u2019s got a nice Scottish twang to him, which came from Mike Myers\u2019 portrayal – but he\u2019s got a nice heritage of both Scottish and Irish there. And a little island in between!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next one is a question I\u2019m almost embarrassed to ask, but it was on the list of popular Shrek questions suggested by Google: Why is Shrek so hot?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haha! When you see what Shrek looks like as Prince Charming when he gets his wish in Shrek 2, he\u2019s a muscly mountain of a man. I think he obviously works out and cares for his physique. And who doesn\u2019t like his little twiddly ears?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is an undeniable appeal to human Shrek, especially with a beard.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Passionate ogre fans, a classic soundtrack, and flying donkeys…<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I recently interviewed the One World Observatory<\/a>, and they actually have their own unique scent. Nowhere else in the world has this – it’s unique to their location and their identity. If Shrek’s Adventure could have its own scent, what would it smell like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shrek always describes himself as being like an onion, so I think there should be a bit of pungent onion in there. Since his best friend Donkey loves waffles, I think it should be balanced with some sweet-smelling waffles as well – it would be a nice rotten, pungent, sweet, cinnamon-y waffle-y smell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a huge Shrek fandom on the internet. Do you ever get extremely passionate Shrek fans visiting Shrek\u2019s Adventure?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do, we do. We get people in Shrek Ears and Princess Fiona gear, and we\u2019ll get adults who come in and buy those, and who take off their jackets to reveal their Shrek T-shirts. We get lots of people who are excited to get a picture with the Big Guy himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once, when I was actually playing Shrek, we had this couple come through, and the lady asked her partner to take a photo – after the picture she started bowing down and worshipping Shrek, which was a very strange feeling. You really do get fanatical fans who meet their idol!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lots of people will bring up Smash Mouth – All Star, but the original Shrek soundtrack really is up there in terms of the best movie soundtracks of the last 20 or so years. What\u2019s your favourite song from there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s difficult! Certainly for me, I\u2019m A Believer<\/em> is our favourite at the attraction. It\u2019s so important to the story, and it kickstarts your journey at the Magical Bus Depot to Far Far Away. I think that one is up there, but it\u2019s close. There are some real crackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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