Dean Chisnall and Neil McDermott to Assume Leading Roles in West End's Shrek

Dean Chisnall has signed on to play the title role opposite Neil McDermott as Lord Farquaad in the hit West End production of Shrek the Musical. The actors are set to join the cast on February 29, 2012, replacing Nigel Lindsay and Nigel Harman, who will play their final performance on February 27. Richard Blackwood will continue in the role of Shrek's sidekick Donkey in a production that began performances at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 6, directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford.

Shrek the Musical tells the story of the swamp-dwelling ogre who embarks on a life-changing adventure in order to reclaim the deed to his land. In addition to Lindsay, Harman and Blackwood, the cast currently features Kimberley Walsh as feisty Princess Fiona. Further replacement casting will be announced shortly; the London production is currently booking through October 21, 2012.

Chisnall currently understudies Lindsay in the role of Shrek and has played Farquaad’s henchman Theolonius and Papa Ogre in the show. His West End credits include Love Never Dies, La Cage aux Folles, Never Forget, Evita and The Woman in White.

McDermott is known to London TV audiences as bad boy Ryan Malloy in EastEnders. His London stage credits include La Cage aux Folles, Follies and The Sound of Music.