Swamplesque: The Shrek-inspired burlesque show

Think you know Shrek? Think again! Swamplesque is a Edinburgh Fringe show from Australian company Trigger Happy - revitalising the story of the swamp-dwelling ogre using burlesque, cabaret, drag, music and much much more! It's camp, it's loud, the costumes are incredible, and audiences are in for an extremely fun ride. Tash York who plays Princess Number 3 (i.e... The one who marries the ogre) gave us an exclusive interview about bringing the show to Edinburgh, being a badass princess and nipple tassels on ogre-boobs...

HI Tash! Following on from your Australia run, you're bringing the Swamp and its characters to a British crowd?

Absolutely! We have had the pleasure of making people see some of their all-time favourite characters in a very different light... I mean of course you want to see Dragon actually blowing fire, right? What about what Ginger Bread Man gets up to late at night with their very alluring buttons? And, I think we have to of course recognise that the big green man himself is actually Scottish so really, it's like a home-coming party if you really think about it?

I think Australian and British humour are both deep rooted in not taking things too seriously, and this show is nothing but an unabashed celebration of these incredible characters in a very hilarious and unique way!

Which Shrek character so you personally identify with the most?

I'm not going to lie; I do get to play the dream role of one the biggest badass princesses of all time. She can fight kung-fu, she's secretly an ogre and she can make balloon animals out of toads! As a former balloon twister for kids parties in a previous life it does make me think that if I can just do a little more work on the self-defence part of things... Maybe I could really be her!

Oh, and I think by the end of Edinburgh Fringe I'll definitely have the "looking like an ogre at night" part covered ... I'm 36yo and have to do the worm and the splits... There aren't enough anti-inflammatories left in the world for my hips hobbling around after 20-odd shows. But it's totally worth it.

If Shrek himself watched the show, do you think he would be "ogre-whelmed"?

Our big green man Trigger Happy is one of the best burlesque performers in Australia, I mean seriously the kicks, spins, splits and fan dances. The fact he manages to throw all of that into a one-hour show is seriously impressive! But I do reckon Shrek himself would be pretty into the fact that he'd get to tassel twirl his ogre-boobs about... it's all in the shoulders baby!

Did you know Shrek has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Would you like one of those one day?

Of course, wouldn't anyone? Though I tend to spend more time in Edinburgh than Hollywood these days, perhaps we could make our own walk of fame there so at least I'd get to see it more often? Instead of people leaving flowers and fan letters though... Could I make a request for them to leave me some Tattie Scones and the finest Scotch Whisky?

We'll see what we can do! How do you hope audiences feel after watching Swamplesque? What's the fairytale ending you wish for?

Honestly, there is something truly magical about this show because it is already based on such a well-loved movie. I think it's so special because of the way in which all our incredible performers bring their own unique talents, identities and personalities to these characters. Audiences come in expecting a good laugh (which definitely happens), but they also get to see a plethora of skills spanning across Burlesque, Drag, Cabaret, Dance and Sideshow with a bunch of performers who are plus sized, neurodivergent, queer and often othered in other variety line up shows. This show celebrates those things because that's what's real and that's what makes the audience feel seen too. As a solo cabaret performer for over 10 years, it is pretty special getting to work with a whole cast of people so closely each and every time, working in fabulous venues and telling this gorgeous tale to boot!

The fairytale ending... Well, if someone very prolific and rich (...or I mean even DreamWorks themselves) wants to fund us making Swamplesque 2... We are willing and ready plus I'd love to play the fairy godmother as a fabulous drag chanteuse.