Chalk Talk Gallery: TY students ogre the moon at Shrek success at the Solstice

Loreto St Michael’s Navan enjoyed a hugely successful run of its Transition Year production of ‘Shrek: The Musical’, staged at the Solstice Arts Centre from January 28th - 30th, 2026.

All three evening shows sold out, with strong support from the local community. A special Friday matinee welcomed local primary schools, Prosper Meath and the National Learning Centre, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere for younger audiences.

The matinee was a particular highlight, with audiences chanting and singing along during the performance and meeting cast members for autographs afterwards at a post-show Meet and Greet.

As lead actor Sarah Mangan said, ‘I loved performing in every show but I think for a lot of us, the matinee on Friday was really special. The atmosphere was amazing.’

The journey to the stage began months earlier with auditions that challenged students to step outside their comfort zones. Svea Austin, who played Shrek, recalled, ‘I was so shocked to get the part of Shrek. I had initially hoped to become a backing dancer so I was so thrilled when I was told.’

Fellow lead Teegan Macken added, ‘It was the first time I had ever auditioned for anything in my life. I was so nervous.’

The production involved the entire TY group, with students taking on everything from acting and set creation to costumes, promotion and front-of-house duties. Under the guidance of teachers Clodagh Finnegan, Sarah Geoghegan, Karl Sheridan, Niamh Lawlor and Jenny O’Sullivan, the show came together through teamwork and dedication. Transition Year Coordinator Sheila Carroll praised the effort involved: ‘This year there are 126 students participating in the TY programme which is our largest TY cohort ever. Every student had a role to play; it was a huge team effort, with staff and students coming together to pull off yet another spectacular TY show.’

The performances were met with standing ovations throughout the week. Although it was a TY production, excitement spread across the whole school, with students organising a Shrek-themed flash mob in the canteen, creating social media videos involving teachers and students from all year groups, and running poster competitions.

For many involved, the musical was the highlight of Transition Year. · "I had the opportunity to go to Bordeaux last September on a French exchange with my school and I thought that was going to be my highlight of TY because it was an unbelievable experience! But, the experience of the Musical even surpassed the boulangerie tour in Bordeaux! It has been the absolute highlight of TY!" (Svea Austin).

Isobel Quinlan described the experience as unforgettable, saying, ‘I loved interacting with the crowd and hearing them laugh and cheer… everyone in TY just came together for what we knew was going to be an unforgettable experience.”

Cast members agreed that it was “definitely the highlight of TY.’

For many involved, the production will remain one of the defining memories of their Transition Year. Beyond the standing ovations and sold-out shows, it was the sense of shared achievement that left the greatest impact. Loreto St Michael’s proved that school productions can rival any stage show and that the spirit of TY is very much alive in Navan.