Shrek The Musical tells a story that is familiar to so many, thanks to the DreamWorks Animation franchise: a heroic ogre and donkey and their journey to rescue an unwilling princess.

The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Bermuda will put the tale on stage at Earl Cameron Theatre next month.

The prediction from those in the know: it’s going to be fantastic.

“It’s going to be big. G&S doesn’t do pedestrian. G&S doesn’t do hole-in-the-wall, regardless of what the production is,” said Marcus Smith who plays Donkey, Shrek’s wisecracking friend.

“The movie itself was so monumental I bet there are very few people on the island who don't know what Shrek is. And I think the musical itself is written very true to the movie. It keeps a lot of those beautiful moments, those really funny lines and the things that activate that nostalgia when people hear and watch Shrek the movie.”

G&S describes the show as “the tale of an unlikely hero”.

“Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairytale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand … and his name is Shrek.

“The musical numbers are a collection of musical styles – from ballads to R&B to Broadway dance numbers with some pop/rock elements.

“It brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there's more to the story than meets the ears.

“Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek The Musical proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.”

At the heart of it all the show is “about acceptance of others who are different”, explained Stephen Notman, who plays the lead character Shrek.

“The breaking down of stereotypes and negative labelling of people who are 'different' is seen in the self-emancipation of the fairytale creatures, particularly in the Raise the Freak Flag song. There's a strong 'love wins' element running throughout the show and it seeps into the actors,” he said.

Kelly Gilmour was “especially excited” to portray a princess that is “so strong and dynamic”.

“I also really loved the songs that she sings. I am naturally a soprano and I love the fact that I can hit those high notes. So I was excited for the challenge,” she said.

“And then of course Fiona is just one of the best princesses, in my opinion, because she is so dynamic. She is a princess but she's also not afraid to get down and dirty; she's not afraid to really show her strength in other ways. So it appealed to me.”

Now carving out a performance career in the US, Marcus was glad the production dovetailed with a break in his time there, as Shrek The Musical had been his introduction to Broadway as a child.

“I fell in love with the story and the music,” he said. “I watched many, many, many, many, many a repeat of the movie and then for the musical to be so magical and wonderful …. and then when [my brother and I] came out of the musical [with our parents] it was our first time seeing snow.

“So me being back in an intermission period from finishing up my work visa in New York City, being back here and finding out G & S was doing Shrek, I said, ‘Oh my gosh. My dream role of Donkey is right here in my grasp. All I have to do is nail my audition and I have so many months to prepare I guess I'm sticking around for Shrek.”

Shrek offered a new challenge for Stephen, who had a great deal of theatre experience but had “always been a little bit shy about singing, and especially about dancing”.

“I’m the bane of every choreographer's existence,” he laughed. “The last [musical] I did was in 2011, where I auditioned and I was cast as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. But I haven't auditioned for anything since because I convinced myself that I didn't really have a voice for musical theatre [although] I can sing a tune.”

A part in last year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, got him back on stage. He followed that with a drama, Doubt, A Parable.

“It was a great role. And I just felt I was having a great year theatrically. And so when Shrek came along, I decided to just look for a new challenge.

“I'd never seen Shrek. I've only watched the first 15 minutes of it still, but I'd seen clips and I had an idea of it and I've heard the Mike Myers Scottish accent so I just went back and gave it a try.”

Like Kelly, he enjoyed the range of music in the show.

“Each song is in a different genre. Who I’d Be is an Irish ditty, Build a Wall is a rock song and the Travel Song is more of a sort of theatre/Frank Sinatra thing. So it's been a wonderful opportunity to expand on things that I've never done before.”

It’s been a five-year break from the stage for Kelly, who was focused on her studies. Now working full-time she is thrilled to be able to indulge her passion.

“None of us get paid for what we're doing. We show up to every rehearsal for hours at a time and it's because we're all so passionate about the theatre and musical theatre and what we do,” she said. “I'm exhausted because I am working full-time and also rehearsing for the show [but] the show gives me such an energy that I could never get from anywhere else and the energy really propels me through the rest of the day.”

• The Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s production of Shrek The Musical takes place October 5 through 14 at Earl Cameron Theatre. Tickets are available at ptix.bm