We sat down with our fabulous Shrek The Musical Director, Catherine Hannan, and Musical Director, Owen Lloyd, to find out a little more about them both.
How did you get into directing/musical directing?
Cath: I started out performing but, over time, I discovered a real passion for working behind the scenes and was lucky enough to be Assistant Director, for our then resident Director, Wendy Carne. There’s something so magical about helping bring a production to life, guiding a cast and seeing it all come together – it’s completely addictive!
Owen: I first started learning the piano at age five and the trumpet two years later, so music is pretty ingrained in my system! I did quite a bit of conducting at school, but it wasn’t until university that I started being involved with musicals. I’ve always loved them and signed up for the musical theatre society, then they were hunting for someone stupid enough to be musical director for a show-in-a-weekend and I volunteered!
Have you directed/MD’d for The Sainsbury Singers before?
Cath: Yes, and it’s been an amazing journey! I directed Made in Dagenham (which I am proud to say won a NODA award for Best Musical!) and more recently 9 to 5 The Musical. Both were such a rewarding experience.
Owen: Unlike Cath, I’m a relative newcomer to The Sainsbury Singers – Shrek is just the second show that I’ve been involved with. Kipps – The New Half a Sixpence Musical, was my first in 2024 and it was a great introduction – lots of toe-tapping tunes, brilliantly-written orchestrations and top-notch performances – I was delighted to be asked back!
What makes you a good team?
Cath: In short: mutual respect, a shared vision, and a good dash of humour! We both set out from day one with the same high expectations and an open, honest approach. We’ve been able to push each other (in the best way!) and the cast to create something really special. Plus, laughter has definitely been the secret sauce in keeping us sane throughout!
Owen: I think we both share very high expectations – the Sainsbury Singers have a well-deserved reputation for putting on incredibly high-standard productions and both of us are determined to make sure that Shrek not only lives up to that standard but gives audiences a spectacular theatre experience – we really want to wow!
Do you still perform onstage yourself?
Cath: I’ve loved performing over the years – playing some brilliant roles, with Grandma Addams being my most recent with The Sainsbury Singers – and I absolutely can’t wait to tread the boards again! Honestly, I couldn’t pick a favourite between performing and directing. Directing is wonderfully all-consuming, but performing lets you just play without the extra responsibility!
Owen: It’s been quite a while since I was on stage in a theatrical performance – I think I was 15! I do, however, still play trumpet in (and am Assistant Director of Music for) Woodley Concert Band – we’re a 45-piece wind band based just east of Reading and we give about 20 performances each year, from formal concerts to summer fetes – I really enjoy playing as part of a large ensemble and seeing the pleasure that live music brings to people.
What makes Shrek a great show to direct/MD?
Cath: Where do I even begin? Shrek is pure magic! It’s iconic; full of heart, humour, and unforgettable characters. From the second we started planning, I wanted to make sure the audience felt the magic from the moment they walked through the door. It’s about creating an experience where every little detail shines, and everyone leaves feeling like they’ve seen something truly special.
What’s been your favourite moment so far?
Owen: We had our first run-through of the whole show at the end of March and it was great to see everything starting to come together – there was still plenty of polishing to do back then but the cast had been working really hard and there was a real sense of achievement, seeing how their efforts had translated into the start of something special.
Owen, is it exciting, nerve-wracking or a bit of both when it comes to conducting the live performances?
Owen: For me, the live performances are absolutely the best bit – the culmination of months of hard work. It’s a huge group of people that come together and contribute their time, effort and expertise to put these productions on (about 100) so there’s definitely an element of nerves when you’re poised ready to bring the baton down at the start of the overture, but then the concentration takes over as I focus on the myriad of details that go into every performance.
Tell us a little about the orchestra you’ve got for this show?
Owen: For Shrek, we’re lucky enough to have a band of 12 superb musicians and we’ve got everything you need to bring excitement to such an epic tale! They’re all amazing players and we’re also fortunate enough to have a superb sound mixing engineer, Dan, to blend it all together with the vocals so it will sound brilliant!
Cath, how does it feel when it gets to the performances themselves when your work is, essentially, done?
Cath: It’s honestly one of the best feelings in the world. It’s a heady mix of pride, joy, and a huge sense of achievement. Every single performance is different – the energy, the little surprises – and I never, ever get tired of it. It’s genuinely magical.
- 14-17 May 2025
- £12.50 - £25
- The Hexagon, Reading