It takes Two-and-a-half hours to transform Ben Mingay into Shrek before every performance of Shrek the Musical. Picture: Mark Stewart

How many layers (of prosthetics) does an ogre have?

Catherine Lambert

1 min read·March 08, 2020 - 10:00AM

Sunday Herald Sun

Turning green eight times a week is all part of show business for Ben Mingay.

Ben arrives at the theatre. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ben before the process begins. Picture: Mark Stewart

How does Ben get to this point? Picture: Mark Stewart

But it’s one of the most arduous procedures he’s ever experienced, taking Two-and-a-half hours of preparation before each show at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

“I don’t think anyone would understand how full on it is unless they saw it in action,” Mingay said.

Ben arrives at the theatre and enters the stage door. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ben arrives at the theatre and signs in. Picture: Mark Stewart

Kellie Ritchie (left) and Meen Jung Shin get to work on Ben. Picture: Mark Stewart

“On a two show day, I’m in the theatre for 13 hours because I can’t leave in between shows and, unless you conserve energy throughout the day, you wouldn’t make it.”

He has lost 12kg since Shrek the Musical opened last January.

Ben must be clean shaven so his prosthetics stick. Picture: Mark Stewart

Meen Jung Shin helps Ben with his skull cap while Tracy Leong mic's him up. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ben’s hair is braided underneath the skull cap. Picture: Mark Stewart

Before a show, he drinks 3 litres of water to make sure he’s hydrated, and another 5 litres throughout.

He has to be clean shaven before getting his hair tied in a braid and the skull cap applied which has small holes in the cheeks for his microphones.

Then his chin, cheeks, nose and forehead prosthetics are applied, taking one hour and 40 minutes.

Turning Ben green is a work of art. Picture: Mark Stewart

The green paint is mixed up. Picture: Mark Stewart

A literal interpretation of the phrase “all hands on deck”. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Then, they get two ice vests out of the freezer to help me cope with the 25kg fat suit which is removed at interval so the ice can be changed,” he said.

“It really is like being in a sauna so it wouldn’t be possible without the ice. I sweat so much that there’s a risk the prosthetic glue will come off.”