Six years after the runaway success of Swamplesque, Trigger Happy Productions are back with the premiere of their brand-new sequel that tears the house down, boots.

A parody of Shrek 2 featuring some of the finest in queer performance, Swamplesque 2 is a non-stop extravaganza with enough burlesque, circus and cabaret acts to make even the most seasoned Fringe-goer ogre-joyed with delight.

With all the confidence of the cult hit it has become, Swamplesque 2 stormed back in all its loud, unhinged and gloriously queer swamp-dragness. It’s bigger and even more unrestratined than its predecessor, delivering a feast of fantasy, body positivity and gob smacking moments that left the audience screaming for more.

Trigger Happy as Shrek is a pure joy to watch, embodying the manly ogre but also breaking out into camp fierceness. A ballet-esque dance number to Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” one of the highlights.

Tash York as the Fairy Godmother brings her show-stopping vocals and sequined gown with a hefty serving of sass. When she belted out “For the Gaze (gays)” jaws were dropped.

Henny Spaghetti as the loveable, albeit chatty, Donkey brought the humour and sickening lip sync numbers and trust me when I say you have never seen Prince Charming like you have in Swamplesque 2. His trapeze act to “Untouched” by The Veronicas showed incredible skill and strength, with a seductive flair.

Puss in Boots also astounded with a trick or two under his belt, with literal hairball gags and sword swallowing suspending the crowd in awe.

The entire cast is uniformly exceptional, each performer bringing their character’s energy to the show. Their chemistry is electric, their timing impeccable, and their ability to whip an audience into a frenzy nothing short of spectacular. The choreography swings between the ridiculous and the sensual, often in the same breath, and the comedic beats all land.

Swamplesque 2 is a celebration of unruliness, being proud of your skin and of course queerness. It invites its audience to revel in the mess, to embrace the ogre within, and to find joy in the parts of us that don’t fit neatly into the world’s expectations. It’s cathartic, hilarious, and unexpectedly moving.

Swamplesque 2 isn’t just a sequel, it’s an evolution, a triumph, and an iconic night at the Fringe.

See Swamplesque 2 at The Moa in Gluttony until Sunday, March 22. Get your tickets here.

*****

Five stars