Mermaid by Polly Teale

A bold reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, told from the perspective of Blue, a young girl who uses imagination and playing pretend to cope with the reality of growing up. She leads us through the Little Mermaid’s story: Beneath the ocean’s waves there is no death or pain or separation. Above, the modern world is beset with war, poverty and desire. On her sixteenth birthday, a mermaid rises up to the surface, leaving her childhood behind forever when she falls in love with a mortal prince. She knows that she can no longer live at the bottom of the ocean – but must she destroy herself to be loved?

Style: This is an ensemble show rooted in physicality and movement. Images onstage will be created through the use of performers’ bodies. A large majority of the script is descriptive stage directions, which the ensemble will use as inspiration to develop choreography organically through a collective devising process led by the director. Music and sound is also integral to the production. All actors will be required to sing and create atmospheric sounds.

Director: Emily Marisabel
Set, Props, Lighting Designer: Chelsea Payne Evason
Costume Designer: Kim - Michelle Dean Brown