Last Friday, I spent the evening with MAST Mayflower Studios for a look behind the scenes, a full theatre tour and to catch the latest show to grace the stage at the city's theatre in Guildhall Square. It was my first visit to MAST Mayflower and I had such an enjoyable time. They have some fabulous shows coming up so I'm sure I'll be back again very soon.
Friday, we were there to see Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch from the multi-award-winning Fat Rascal Theatre and fresh from a complete sellout run at Edinburgh Fringe.
"We’re beyond thrilled to be making our return this Summer, after spending the last two years upscaling the design, expanding the show into its two fast-paced and electric acts, finding our wildly talented new cast and dreaming up what we know this show has the potential to be. ‘Unfortunate’ is brimming with the passion and persistence of a magnificent team of individuals fully committed to our vision of pure silliness, eccentricity and joy. Ursula’s lair is finally ready to welcome you back and brimming with surprises, we just need our final ingredient… you!”
Robyn Grant – Writer of the Book and Lyrics and Director
When Disney released ‘The Little Mermaid’ in 1989, they had no idea they were giving birth to an icon. Ursula the Sea Witch quickly took her place as the queen of Disney villains: a pop culture legend and a feminist badass. She's loud. She's clever. She's a ruthless businesswoman, and oh boy, is she sexy. Sexy, and unapologetically fat.
She's not defined by slipper-sized feet, enchanted blonde hair, or snow-white skin. Ursula is plump, purple and proud. For the LGBTQ+ community stands Ursula, defiant against her creator and with a message for all of us ‘poor unfortunate souls’ - "love the skin you're in, value your voice over your body, and don't be afraid to be a little bit nasty" Who better to take us on a scorching trip through the problematic minefield that is Disney?
Join everyone's favourite Disney Diva, Ursula, as she gives her take on what really happened all those years ago under the sea. With an original hot pop soundtrack and trademark filthy humour, it’s time to take the plunge and dive into this year’s hottest night out.
Cruella told her side, and Maleficent’s had her moment. Now the legendary queer queen is ready to spill, in this tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers. It’s gonna get wet.
I cannot express enough how incredible Unfortunate was - I went in with no expectations other than knowing it had been a hit at Fringe and oh boy can I see why. The set is fun, the puppets were fabulous and the cast stole my heart. From dirty quips and filthy songs to sexual innuendos and the odd c-bomb, I don't think I've heard a theatre audience laugh and react the way they did Friday night in a long time.
I so want to see Unfortunate get even bigger because it absolutely deserves to be on the West End - it's so perfectly humorous and to be honest, there's nothing else like it right now. I would buy tickets to watch it again in a heartbeat - it's a must-see show.
Head to Fat Rascal to see where Unfortunate will be showing next, along with other upcoming shows.
Check out MAST Mayflower for their autumn season too.
(Unfortunate is produced by Wildpark Entertainment and Fat Rascal Theatre. The London Premiere is produced in association with Underbelly. Book and Lyrics are by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx with Music, arrangements & orchestrations by Tim Gilvin. It will be directed by Robyn Grant with Choreography by Melody Sinclair, Musical Direction by Arlene McNaught, Associate Musical Direction by Amelia Davies, Set Design by Abby Clarke, Costume Design by Cory Shipp, Sound Design by Dominic Cusack and Joe Cusack, Lighting Design by Douglas Kuhrt, Puppet Design by Abby Clarke and Hugh Purves, Make Up Design by Maya Lewis, Costume Supervision by Sian Clare and Additional Casting by Pearson Casting)