Disney's The Little Mermaid

Disney’s The Little Mermaid-  Signed Relaxed Performance
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
Book by Doug Wright

Based on the 1989 Disney film and the beloved story by Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid follows Ariel, a young mermaid who trades her voice to the sea witch Ursula in exchange for legs, in pursuit of Prince Eric on land.

Directed by Peter Darnell (Life Member of KOSMTC), with choreography by Siobhan Amos and musical direction by Karl Kolodziejczyk and Rod Iliffe, this production delivered a colourful, energetic, and emotionally engaging performance.

Thank you for the warm welcome from your volunteer team, and a special thank you to Carole (KOS President) who accompanied me at your performance.

Mollie Brophy-Williams as Ariel gave a wonderful performance, her voice soft, warm, and expressive, paired with delightful facial expressions. Dawid Szwaj as Prince Eric showed strong stage presence. The pairing was well cast, and their harmonies worked very well.

Eddie Boshell took on the role of Grimsby, and Chef Louis - Ian Hammond-Stark, both bringing humour and character to the roles.

Megan Coupar as Ursula was a standout, with a fantastic costume powered by four dancers. Her powerful vocals and commanding presence created a strong sense of menace and ambition.

Tim Sell’s Sebastian was a highlight, with a striking red costume, clever movement, and expressive characterisation. His vocals shone, particularly in “Kiss the Girl” and “Under the Sea.”

John Murray portrayed King Triton with an imposing stage presence, balancing regal authority with genuine fatherly love.

Will Barr’s Scuttle added humour and personality, while Charlie Jones performed as Flounder (with Nathan Hargreaves appearing in alternate performances). Particularly tremendous vocals in ‘She’s in Love’, which was very impressive.

Flotsam and Jetsam, played by Steve Wojdylewicz and Phoenix Mars, wore clever eel costumes and moved in excellent synchronisation, characterfully enhancing their scenes.

Ell Dohnalek and Anastacia Ogilvie as Windward and Leeward brought charm through expressive performances and characterful detail.

Team Flotsam (Imogen Ballard, Livvy McConnachie, Evie Fleming, Ciara Dyer, Mia Eggett) performed in this show and were excellent. They executed their choreography with precision, supported fellow performers generously, and handled props and costume changes with professionalism.

Team Jetsam (Daizi Jones, Tilly Hudson, Poppy Salter, Summer Dijkhuizen, Lyra Armstrong) are also part of the production and contribute to the overall strength of the show.

Aquata (Ruby Wright), Andrina (Becci Wynn), Arista (Alexis Spillane), Atina (Jessica Hallette), Adella (Katie Morton), and Allana (Carla Valentino) were visually stunning, with beautifully colour-coordinated costumes, wigs, and fins. Their vocals were strong, their dancing confident, and their comic timing—particularly when deliberately singing “badly” during the contest at the ball, was very effective.

The ensemble dancers—Amelia Standish, Cara Fox, Cara Howard, Catherine Wilde, Emily Pearson, Isabell Panter, Jess Hollis, Mika Ford, Mikael Woodgates, Monica Gedney, Rachel Newell, and Samantha Wiles—provided excellent support throughout, maintaining energy and cohesion across the production. It was clear to see that you were all enjoying being part of the excellent KOS team.  Choreographer – Siobhan Amos utilised each dancer well, with fast and intricate choreography, which was a true highlight of the performance. A professional standard throughout.

Scenic projections were used effectively to create vibrant underwater scenes and smooth transitions. Clever lighting brought the undersea world to life, designed by Jack Goodman and your sound production was perfect, by Phil Bennett. I enjoyed the backing singers which were enhanced by recorded artists at Fitdog Studios.

Set construction by The Electrix was particularly impressive, especially Ariel’s grotto—two large mobile trucks as set pieces designed as an underwater cave, filled with treasures from the human world. The band swapped rehearsal time for designing and building these imaginative pieces, well done.

Those credited with set work in the programme include Siobhan Amos, Will Barr, Steve Wojdylewicz, Dawid Szwaj, Becci Wynn, Nathan Gibson, and Ian Hammond-Stark.

Props were provided by Celtic Prop Hire, Siobhan Amos, and members of the cast.

Stage manager Nathan Ingram with Tracey Arnold, Rodney Dell and Jamie Wallace, who were a marvellous team who worked hard to change the scenes with slick professionalism.

Costumes were designed by Peter Darnell and Siobhan Amos, while wigs, hair, and make-up were provided by Brushed Beauties and members of the cast. I loved all the creatures who appeared onstage. Particularly the gulls, who’s imaginative costumes moved well with their choreography, the chef’s, maids, fish, jelly-fish, and octopus, all their costumes enhanced the show, wonderful.

Chaperones—Peter Darnell, Louise Wright, Amanda Jones, Kat Ballard, Ellie Hudson, and Cherisse Fleming—played a vital role in supporting the younger performers.

Front of house dressing by Octopus created a magical atmosphere, particularly delighting younger audience members as they entered The Castle Theatre.

Your social promotion campaign, banners and posters were impressive and I am delighted to put your fantastic programme and poster forward to our 2026 competition.

The performance of “If Only”, sung by Ariel, Eric, Sebastian, and King Triton, was truly masterful. The emotional depth and connection to the lyrics created a powerful and moving moment that brought genuine emotion to the audience.

Overall, this was a vibrant and heartfelt production, showcasing the dedication, teamwork, and talent of everyone involved both on and off stage. Thank you for meeting me after the show, it was a tremendous pleasure to meet you all. 

 

 

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.