culture fix ★★★★
The world of Shrek meets burlesque in Swamplesque, a glorious celebration of body positivity, high camp comedy, and the enduring appeal of the cult of Shrek, which arrives at the Assembly Hall this Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Blending comedy, drag, burlesque, and pop culture parody, Swamplesque is a blissful late-night spectacle.
Using audio clips and the narrative from the 2001 DreamWorks classic, Swamplesque presents cabaret twists on classic characters from Far Far Away: Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Pinocchio, Lord Farquaad, Magic Mirror, and the Dragon. Featuring high-energy roller skating, burlesque dancing, musical numbers, and comedy, Swamplesque delivers an ogre-tastic variety spectacular.
Refreshingly bold in its body positivity, Australia’s Trigger Happy takes on the role of the much-loved ogre. The star defies norms of a “traditional burlesque figure,” performing high-energy routines throughout – including a barnstorming opening number to Smash Mouth’s “All Star” from the film. This delightful representation delivers a sense of queer defiance, with drag takes on Donkey, Farquaad, and the Dragon also met with howls of adoration from the crowd.