INTERVIEW - Bronté Barbé (Shrek the Musical)

I N T E R V I E W : B R O N T É B A R B É

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'Princess Fiona' - Shrek the Musical UK Tour

INTERVIEWS | Kyle Pedley

As Shrek the Musical arrives for a two-week engagement at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, we caught up with it's leading lady, and former contestant on BBC One's Over the Rainbow talent search, to talk about her taking on the role of feisty Princess Fiona in the show's National Tour...

Firstly, Bronté, congratulations on stepping into the role of Princess Fiona; you had originally begun the Shrek tour as Red Riding Hood, is that right?

Yes! I started doing Red in 2014 and had auditioned in 2013, so that role had been with me for a while and I loved it. It was a very 'dancy' part and I really enjoyed that, it's different to what I would usually do; I do a lot of character roles - that's my bag!

They held auditions to re-cast a few characters in the show from people who had gotten other auditions and moved on to other shows. The part of Princess Fiona came up and I said to my agent "I'd love to be seen for that!".

I didn't think that I would, but a couple of days later they said they were going to see me for the role and it all sort of just happened.

I got the role! I couldn't believe it.

Had you understudied the role at all before then?

No I hadn't! When I was playing Little Red Riding Hood, the role that I understudied was 'Teen Fiona' - she appears during on of the songs where Fiona sings about her lifetime locked in the tower - but I never actually went on and performed the role, so I still can't believe it really!

I stand in my dressing room and look in the mirror when I'm all done up in my costume and think 'Wow, this is really happening!'

It really is a fairytale in itself.

"I stand in my dressing room and look in the

mirror when I'm all done up in my costume

and think 'Wow, this is really happening!'

... it really is a fairytale in itself."

So you've been playing Fiona now since July - how has it been taking that step up to becoming the show's leading lady?

I'd done a few little roles before this - I graduated in 2013 and got the park of Penny Pingleton in Hairpsray which we took to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, then I moved on to Cool Rider, which is 'Grease 2' and that was a lot of fun, but nothing quite as big as this!

I know I could do it... it's a big part but I used to watch the show from the wings every night whenever I wasn't on stage and thought 'yeah, I can do this, I'd love to!'

And, of course Shrek is one of those big shows which requires triples and even quadruple threats, particularly when it comes to Fiona - singing, dancing, acting and comedy on top - are there are of those which you found particularly daunting or challenging as a performer? Which areas of this role in particular have pushed you the most?

I was particulalry lucky for this role because tap is my favourite dance style and I'd already done the tap routine that Fiona does, just as a different character. I knew all the choreography already so it was just finding the confidence to take over as that particular dances' lead. It may not sound much but it is quite a big thing because I'm not an overly confident person off-stage.

Considering everything I have to have for the role, the main thing for me is just to do my best and have the best time ever!

Now Shrek has become a hugely recognisable franchise around the world, and with that it's characters have become quite iconic. How did you go about crafting your version of Fiona? How much creative freedom were you give to explore your interpretation of the role?

Fiona's a really interesting character because she's not your conventional princess, despite the fact that's what she is so desperately trying to be!

For me it was very much about being true to the film - it's the familiarity that everyone comes to expect with something like this but for me to do the part justice there has to be a bit of 'me' in there to make it true.

I had to watch the film again because even though you know it I thought I'd just familiarise myself with what everyone knows and loves. It was about finding those parts of me that are like Fiona and using that. She's a little bit different, there's so much to her.

I love her, she's great.

"There has to be a bit of 'me' in there to make

it true... It was about finding those parts

of me that are like Fiona and using that."

And having been with the tour now for just over a year, do you ever have a personal window where you have a project for say this long and then feel the desire to move on to the next?

I've been lucky enough to almost keep in work since it all started. In terms of moving on and the future, I'd just like to keep working, whether that's in another musical or doing some plays. I'd like to be in a West End show, so who knows!

I'm just a bit greedy - I'd do it all!

I didn't think I'd be a leading lady so early on in my career so I've had a great start. I just wish that I could tell 14 year old Bronté that it was all going to be alright!

On that note, some readers will obviously recognise you from your appearance on Over The Rainbow - how much of an impact did that make on your career after reaching the finals of the show?

Auditioning for Over The Rainbow was a big step, making the first move. I remember turning up to the audition, having just turned 18, thinking 'why not?'.

I had a place at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where I did my degree, but didn't have any funding to go; it's really expensive to go to drama school. My mum saw the advert for Dorothy and I thought it sounded amazing, so I just went for it.

I started getting through all the rounds and thought 'this is incredible!', and got to the TV stage. When I got voted off the show, despite being a little bit sad, I'd had the best time and I left feeling really positive because I'd learnt so much from it.

[After being on the show], I managed to secure funding for my place at Mountview and also got a grant from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, which was amazing.

It meant I could do my three years training and then went straight into auditions.

"Once you get on that Shrek train it's just

absolute joy... and the musical in particular

really opens up some of the characters' a

bit more and gives it real heart."

And of course, we're chatting with you today ahead of the show's run at the Wolverhampton Grand - so what can our Wolverhampton and Midlands audiences who are coming to see the show expect from Shrek the Musical when it arrives later this year?

They should absolutely expect fun from start to finish! Once you get on that Shrek train it's just absolute joy - there's something for all the family.

The kids will love it but there's stuff in there for the adults too. For people who love the film, it's very similar - it's a great laugh but there's a lot of heart ot it.

You might just think it's all a bit of fun but actually the musical in particular really opens up some of the characters' feelings a bit more and gives it real heart.

Shrek the Musical will be running at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Wednesday 30 September through to Sunday 11 October 2015.

Stay tuned for our full review of the show going live on Friday 2 October 2015.

Run: Wed 30 Sep - Sun 11 Oct 2015

Tickets: 01902 429 212 / Official Website: click

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