Review: Little Mermaid, the egg, Theatre Royal Bath

A merry congratulations to the egg this winter. This is a full, hearty, generous, clever, thoughtful fun and beautiful show. Phew. It’s children’s / young people’s / family theatre done well. Yup – it’s for everyone once they’re past six years of age (smaller ones might not keep up with the length and plot, but heck, if you’re up for it, test it out yourself and go twice).

Not only has the team (writer Bea Roberts, co-devisers Roberts and the egg’s associate company Pins & Needles Productions, and co-directors Emma Earle and Cameron Carver) taken an interesting (but sometimes gloomy) tale of human / mermaid relations and made it a truly festive celebration: but they’ve marvellously avoided cloying whimsy, syrup and right-on cliché with some properly enjoyable entertainment.

Having said all I need to say by now, however, I bet you would like some details to back this up.

First up – set, costume, lights, sound: the world – the worlds! – of the show. It’s just a bit bliss: dusty pastel grime and gentle dereliction are the flavour underwater, as everything seems gently to undulate around a marvellous (mer-vellous?) royal family.

Then ‘upstairs’, on land, it’s all yellow – and blue-bright Torquay seaside, fresh air and seagulls. All credit to Zoe Squire for her overall design, Vic Mountjoy’s lighting design and Jon Everett’s sound design. Bianca Ward and Victor Wilding (costume / wardrobe respectively) need an appropriate ‘hats off’ for hitting the perfect tone in dressing the cast.

Next, the story! It’s a joy. Bea Roberts and Pins & Needles have worked together to create a lovely story. It’s packed with detail. While the show comes in at around two hours with interval, the two school groups (6-7 and 8-9 years old) who watched with me were completely transfixed. Their attention never once wandered. As any theatre bod / parent knows, that is a huge achievement.

What’s so rewarding – as a folklore fan, writer and parent – is that this version of the story is full of compassion, deliciously fresh common sense and lots and lots of tender care (no spoilers here – go and see for yourself).

The pace and development hit all the right notes, with superior panto-esque set pieces like a stylistic make-over, character songs (bravo, composer/arranger Jack Drewry) and comic pauses for breath as we take our time to giggle with these great – believable – characters.

Third, cast. What a great ensemble the directors have wrought. There are only seven people on stage – but it feels like we meet thrice as many distinct characters. Every character is a treat, from Anna Wheatley’s lead as Morgan, through the royal sisters and yuppies and revolting fishy suitors (Emile Clarke, Caroline Garland, Timothy O’Hara) and the very distinct Laura (Georgia Frost), wonderful treat Aunt Celeste (Meghan Treadway) and Grandmamma (Jordan Whyte).

With this lovely show, the egg has done itself proud. Full credit to them for clearly making an investment – it’s paid off ten-fold. It’s not a trendy winter-cliché piece. It’s not a migraine-inducing festive shoutathon that leaves you staggering for the gin. It’s a gorgeous, generous, love-filled treasure trove of a show that will stay with you and your family for many years to come. I hope you enjoy it.

The Little Mermaid continues at the egg, Theatre Royal Bath until Sunday, January 14. For more info and to book tickets, visit theatreroyal.org.uk/page/3030/Little-Mermaid/1484

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