Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch | The Lowry

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, which is written by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx with music by Tim Gilvin, tells the backstory of one of Disney’s most notorious villains and poses the intriguing question: Is Ursula really evil?

The idea for Unfortunate originated over dinner and drinks in 2018, when Grant and Foxx began shaping the concept. Once composer Gilvin joined the team, the musical truly came to life, and the trio prepared the show for its premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019. The musical parody was met with five-star reviews, with audiences delighting in discovering a much “softer” side to the iconic sea witch.

Following its Fringe success, the production was nominated for a Writers’ Guild Award for Best Musical Theatre Book in 2020, marking the beginning of something special. After lockdown, Unfortunate returned triumphantly, joining London’s Underbelly Festival, heading back to the Edinburgh Fringe for a second time, and embarking on a UK tour. Its popularity continued to soar, leading to another tour in 2023 alongside a short run at London’s Southwark Playhouse.

Now in 2025, the show is once again touring ahead of a limited run at The Other Palace in London in 2026, continuing to enchant audiences and proving that everyone needs a sassy sea witch belting out camp, catchy songs in their life.

Ursula may be one of Disney’s most recognisable characters, but Unfortunate suggests she may have been completely misunderstood. Yes, Ursula—played brilliantly by Sam Buttery—is dramatic, sassy, sarcastic, and unapologetically bold, but wicked? Apparently not. After a turbulent childhood marked by bullying and exclusion for being herself, she unexpectedly falls in love with Prince Triton (Blair Robertson). Their relationship, however, is doomed from the outset, facing opposition from King Triton and a series of obstacles too great to overcome. Following a tragic event for which Ursula is falsely accused, she is banished to the dark waters, destined to spend eternity alone.

Fast forward several years and Prince Triton is now King, struggling to rule his kingdom while keeping an eye on one particularly unruly daughter—Ariel, played by Miracle Chance. In a desperate attempt to prevent Ariel from venturing onto dry land, Triton reluctantly enlists the help of Ursula, asking her to use her dark magic to intervene. When former lovers are reunited, the question remains: will old flames reignite, and will they realise what they have lost?

The production features all our favourite Little Mermaid characters, including Sebastian (Allie Hart), Prince Eric and Flounder (both played by James Spence), and Ursula’s two gloriously camp gay eels, portrayed by Freya McMahon and Fionán O’Carroll. With such a small cast covering multiple roles, the performers handle quick changes effortlessly, showcasing impressive versatility and making each character feel fully realised.

The music reimagines classic Disney songs with a camp, adult-friendly twist—catchy, cheeky, and often deliciously inappropriate. These numbers had the audience laughing out loud and offered a refreshing way to bring The Little Mermaid firmly into 2025, encouraging us to reconsider our judgement of Ursula altogether.

Buttery delivers powerhouse vocals, excelling particularly in the show’s emotional ballads. The entire cast blends beautifully, conveying humour, emotion, and genuine warmth through song. Comedic timing across the board is impeccable, with even the most outrageous jokes landing perfectly. This is Disney nostalgia unapologetically rewritten for adults—and it works brilliantly.

The story is easy to follow and packed with everything you’d expect from musical theatre: fabulous costumes, playful props, adaptable set design, and atmospheric lighting that supports the storytelling without distracting from the performances. While there were some minor sound issues, the cast handled them professionally, and in the intimate theatre space no dialogue was lost—something that can easily be refined for larger venues in the future.

Overall, Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch has everything to love about musical theatre: a clever reimagining of a beloved story, irresistibly catchy songs, hilariously inappropriate humour, outrageously camp costumes and makeup, and—most importantly—a cast who know exactly how to win the hearts and laughs of their audience. Imagine the heart of Disney combined with the dark comedy of The Book of Mormon—the result is pure theatrical joy.

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is showing at The Lowry, Manchester until 11 January 2026, before heading to The Other Palace, London for a limited run starting in February 2026.

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★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mark Senior