The Singing Mermaid
23 Nov–26 Jan 2025
A Little Angel Theatre and Royal & Derngate, Northampton co-production, in association with Watershed Productions
by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks
Adapted by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane
Aimed at ages 3-8
Join us on a fun, warm-hearted musical adventure this Christmas as this joyful and charming family favourite returns to LAT, following a hugely successful national tour.
Did you ever go to Silversands
On a sunny summer’s day?
Then perhaps you saw the mermaid
Who sang in the deep blue bay.
One day, the singing mermaid is tempted away from all of her sea creature friends and her peaceful home at Silversands to join a travelling circus. The audiences love to hear her sing, but the poor mermaid was tricked! Instead of the swimming pool she was promised, she is kept in a small tank by the wicked circus master Sam Sly, and she soon longs to return to the freedom of the sea.
Will she ever escape? And who will help her along the way?
Through beautiful puppetry and performance, and with music by Barb Jungr (We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, The Pixie and the Pudding, The Smartest Giant in Town, There May be a Castle and Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book), Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’s enormously popular story, The Singing Mermaid, is brought to life.
“This is a fun, warm-hearted adventure that may leave you humming its songs – and even wanting to hug a seagull”
The Guardian
“It’s a lovely piece of theatre that’ll leave its audience in a trance, while possessing enough loopy visual brio to ensure adults have a swimming time too.”
Time Out
“Here’s a lovely little show that makes a big splash. it thrills and charms, effortlessly transporting its audience from the depths of the ocean to dizzying high-wire feats in a circus big top”
The Times
Production Photos
by Ellie Kurttz
Age guidance
The Singing Mermaid is aimed at ages 3-8.
Our shows for this age group have storylines that can be followed and enjoyed by 3-4-year olds, but may also use slightly more complex ideas, humour, dialogue or song lyrics that older children will get more out of. There is nothing really scary in these shows but they can be a bit more dramatic than those for the youngest children, including in their use of sound and lighting, and characters may face some perils.
This show has standard theatre seating – rows of benches facing the stage. There will be up to 90 people watching the show (sometimes more if you come when there are school groups).
There are points throughout the show where everyone is invited to join in e.g. with clapping, cheering, counting, making noises or answering questions. The audience stay in their seats while watching the show, but you can leave and re-enter the auditorium at any time.
There is a comic ‘baddy’, Sam Sly the circus owner, played by an actor. He treats the mermaid unkindly and some children may find the performance of this character a little overwhelming.
All ages are welcome at our shows and age ranges can only be a rough guide, but please bear in mind that The Singing Mermaid was not specially designed for under-threes. A show aimed at two-year olds would have some differences – those shows are carefully made to hold their attention for the duration, and not to be unsettling for them.
Book our workshops
Family Workshops - The Singing Mermaid
For ages 3-6
Family Workshops - Strictly Dancing Puppets!
For ages 5-8
School Bookings
For EYFS, KS1 & KS2 / For ages 3 – 8
Curriculum links
English: Alternative fairy tales and exploring fairy tale characters
PSHE: Feeling sad, scared, lonely or afraid. Ways of expressing how you feel and dealing with emotions.
The Educational pack for The Singing Mermaid will be available soon.
The Visual Story for The Singing Mermaid can be found here.
Tickets for school groups are £7 for each adult and each child, or £8.50 for fee-paying schools and nurseries. These rates are only available on weekdays before 3pm during Islington term time. Free adult tickets are available for children who need 1:1 support.
Before requesting a booking, please check dates, times and availability here. Maximum school capacity for this show is 115 people per performance.
Please fill in our school booking enquiry form here.
Download our information for undertaking a risk assessment for school visits here.
Accessible Performances
BSL Interpreted Performance: Saturday 18 January, 3.30 PM
Click here to book for this BSL performance.
These performances are provided for those who use British Sign Language. The interpreter will be at the front of the stage and lit with a spotlight. They will provide a linguistic and artistic interpretation of the show for people who are D/deaf or for whom BSL is their preferred language.
Relaxed Performance: Sunday 12 January, 3.30 PM
No online booking for Relaxed Performances – please call 020 7226 1787
Relaxed Performances are provided for people who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, or are uncomfortable with sudden lighting changes or loud noises, including those with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, sensory or communication needs or a learning disability. Find out more here.
The Visual Story for The Singing Mermaid can be found here.
What is a visual story? Find out more here.
If you are interested in arranging a weekday Relaxed Performance for a school group, please contact boxoffice@littleangeltheatre.com
Credits
Adapted by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane
Music and Lyrics by Barb Jungr
Directed by Samantha Lane
Associate Director – Sam Dutton
Set & Costume designed by Laura McEwen
Puppets Designed by Lyndie Wright
Lighting Design by Sherry Coenen
Stage managed by Alex Hobbs
Performed by Sam Dutton, Ruth Calkin & Louise Mellor
This play is based on the original book The Singing Mermaid. Text copyright © Julia Donaldson 2012. Illustrations copyright © Lydia Monks 2012. Published by Macmillan Children’s Books.
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Aimed at ages 2-5
The Singing Mermaid - Festive Gala
This will be a unique event, which will have a special guest curtain raiser and surprise performances. Followed by a performance of the award winning LAT adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s, The Singing Mermaid.
All ages are welcome
Magic. Pure innocent, delightful puppet magic. A wonderful family outing.
– Benedict Cumberbatch
Little Angel Theatre is a magical place. They have brought many of my books to life on stage, and they do so creatively whilst remaining faithful to the books. It is wonderful to see so many children enjoying this special THEATRE.
– Julia Donaldson
My FAVOURITE theatre in the whole world!
– Neil Gaiman
Little Angel is nothing less
than an icon of North
London childhood.
Time Out
Performances
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
Relaxed performances are provided for people who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, including those with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, sensory or communication needs or a learning disability.
No online booking, please call 020 7226 1787
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
These performances are provided for those who use British Sign Language. The interpreter will be at the front of the stage and lit with a spotlight. They will provide a linguistic and artistic interpretation of the show for people who are D/deaf or for whom BSL is their preferred language.
These performances are open to all, but if no-one in your party is specifically looking for BSL interpretation, please consider booking at another time to allow these tickets to go to those who would most benefit.
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm
All tickets £12 at 4.45pm