Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch tickets

By: Robyn Grant, Daniel Foxx
Songs by: Robyn Grant, Daniel Foxx, Tim Gilvin
Director: Robyn Grant
Choreography: Melody Sinclair-Marsh
Sets: Jasmine Swan
Costumes: Jasmine Swan
Lighting: Adam King
Sound: Ian Dickinson

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch has, of course, built its own cult following through its previous runs in Edinburgh, Birmingham, London, and Manchester, and now it returns for a wild new production at The Other Palace. This show is not merely a parody of The Little Mermaid; it gleefully rips it apart, reframing Ursula as the absolute queen she has always been. This musical feels like a drag cabaret pop concert, influenced by the nostalgia of childhood.

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch is a musical with a cast as wonderful as its writing, led by Sam Buttery as Ursula, with Julie Yammanee as Ariel, Allie Dart as Sebastian and others, Blair Robertson as King Triton and others, and James Spence as Eric and others. With formidable direction and glorious score, Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch leans into themes of queerness and camp.

The show also boasts a wonderful creative team, including set and costume design by Jasmine Swan, sound design by Ian Dickinson, and lighting by Adam King.

This production is rude and entirely over-the-top, delivering audiences a show they’ll never forget.

What to watch for

• Ursula, the original Disney character, is inspired by the drag queen Divine, who starred in films such as Hairspray (1988) and Pink Flamingos (1972)
• Divine ended up passing away a year before The Little Mermaid was released, having never gotten to see the character in real life.
• Ursula isn’t actually part octopus, as she only has six tentacles, making her some kind of cephalopod.
• Robyn Grant was nominated for a Writers Guild of Great Britain Award in Best Musical Theatre Book Writing for Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch.