The Little Mermaid - A Sunday Like No Other

For audiences aged 7 and up.

Andersen's classic fairy tale has inspired countless adaptations - including Disney's most famous version. But is it really a story with a happy ending? Is giving up your voice for a prince's love a good idea? Would the prince want to spend his life with a girl he cannot communicate with? And would the main character have a chance to connect with people if she learned to write or use sign language?

These are the questions posed by the latest adaptation, commissioned by the Arlekin Theatre and written by Maria Wojtyszko - an author known for plays that critically examine stereotypes about gender, family, and child-rearing. In this version, the feminist dimension takes centre stage, alongside themes of adventure-seeking, the mermaid's character, and her curiosity about the world.

The production takes the form of a modern musical that enters into dialogue with film and reveals alternative interpretations of the same story. The fact that the characters come from two vastly different worlds is treated here as a matter of cultural difference - a timely and thought-provoking issue. The piece balances humour and irony, qualities essential for theatre aimed at school-age audiences.