Bermudian theatre actress Candace Furbert is usually extremely confident when she performs.

However it proved to be a completely different story when she auditioned for her latest role in the UK tour of Shrek, The Musical.

Calling herself nervous would have been a huge understatement, she said. “I was shaking from the time I got in [to audition] until the time I walked out.

“Even after the whole audition panel applauded me it still didn’t break the nerves, but [one thing I’ve learned is] nerves can be good,” she said.

When the production team called her to say she got the job she was home nursing an ankle injury, with the help of her cousin, Carlita Wales, and close friend, Antionette Amory. Having them there when she received the call “meant everything” to her, especially considering it can get lonely being away from home sometimes, she said.

Miss Furbert, 23, is currently playing the role of the Dragon and Fairy Godmother in the musical, which is based on the 2001 DreamWorks film Shrek, starring Mike Meyers.

She is also the first cover for Mamma Ogre, when the original actress is unavailable.

Before she stepped into the roles, she was a part of the original London cast of West End production, The Book of Mormon. Following that she joined The New Musical Project’s rehearsed reading for ‘Grace Notes’, a musical by Robert Gould & Christopher J Orton. Miss Furbert got to star as Grace.

Since graduating from the American Musical Theatre Academy of London in 2012, she counts herself ‘blessed’ to have not had any challenges in finding work in theatre.

“God willing it continues that way,” she said. “I think my determination, the support I’ve got from everyone, and faith in God have helped me to get this far.

“[One reviewer of the musical said I had a] ‘Voice of Diamonds’, which helps, but it’s also my strength to never give up even when it gets tough that has played a big part on my success thus far.”

Miss Furbert said she was ecstatic to get to wake up each day and do what she loves.

Singing and performing have been all she’s wanted to do since 2010, when she took part in Up With People — an educational programme that tours across different continents, giving young people the chance to participate in service projects and perform in a musical stage production.

Since then it’s been her unwavering dream to find a way to impact others through her musical gift and change lives.

She said Shrek is giving her a chance to impact young people — one smile at a time — however, the job doesn’t always come easy.

“The rehearsal period was intense,” she said. “I’ve never worked so hard before in my life, but there are great rewards because of it and that makes it all worth it.”

Before that she thought working a typical 9am- 5pm shift was long, but these days she’s putting in 12 hour days. Sometimes work starts at 10am; and doesn’t finish until 10pm.

One thing that keeps her going during those hectic periods is remembering how much children and families enjoy the show.

“Hearing the sound of the children in the audience screaming and shouting after every show melts my heart,” she said.

“Making them happy and helping them to believe [in fairy tales and magic] is all I need to keep me motivated everyday. It makes it all worth it.”

It’s also rewarding having support from a team of puppeteers, who “control the most amazing giant sized Dragon puppet ever to be seen on stage,” she said.

For Miss Furbert, the best part of the musical is the finale when the voice of her character, Dragon, is revealed. The scene, which features the cast singing ‘I’m a Believer’, has a very celebratory feel, she said.

“This number for me it shows us how we are all different and unique. We might even be ugly like an Ogre, but [the moral is] our beauty can still shine from our warm hearts and loving personalities, as we stand together as a community.”