Annabelle Aquino and Tom Babbage in The Little Mermaid at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor. Picture: Pamela Raith
The Little Mermaid continues at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor until 4 January 2026.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Audiences expecting a Disney-esque version of The Little Mermaid don’t really know the Watermill. However, anyone who knows the venue with its enviable creativity will appreciate well in advance that this is not to be some sugary sweet pantomime version of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale (Lara Barbier has written the book with Elgiva Field, who also directs, and the music and lyrics are by Amie Parsons).
Relocated to Cornwall and the folklores of the sea, this is a respectful interpretation of the fishermen’s tough life juxtaposed against the mythical underwater world of mermaids and mermen. It is reflective in its truth yet successfully intertwines the wistful longing of wanting to experience another world.
On Merryn’s 18th birthday she is to be granted a wish by her father, the Sea King, and is allowed to break the surface of the waves for the first time to see the world above the sea kingdom. Needless to say things don’t go to plan and the inquisitive Merryn not only loses her brother Kitto but also agrees to trade her voice for human legs.
It’s a slow start as the story takes form and Merryn relinquishes her voice, but it’s actually then that Annabelle Aquinoto raises her performance to a new, stronger level and carries the rest of the show. She has a delightful innocence that perfectly fits the characterisation and builds an enchanting relationship with young fisherman Cadan, played with compassion by Tom Babbage.
The cast of skilled actor-musicians play multiple roles including Zach Burns who is the cute, camp Kitto but also a rough Cornish smuggler among others. Christopher Staines is regally ethereal as King Taran and, in comparison, a coarse yet considerate Captain Trelawney.
Sophie Kamal doubles as Granny Ocean and Granny Bessy with a shady quality that reveals a hardness under her softer exterior and Lucinda Freeburn is Merryn’s older more sensible sister Senara. Swing Rowan MacPherson pulls off no mean feat with so many multiple roles to manage.
Julie Watterston
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