She’s among the pantheon of ultimate Disney villains. Now the story of The Little Mermaid’s Ursula the Sea Witch will be brought to London’s The Other Palace in February 2026 in a new production of Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch.
Cruella told her side, and Maleficent’s had her moment… Now the legendary sea witch is ready to spill in this tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers – a laugh-a-minute dive through Ursula’s backstory filled with a filthy pop soundtrack, much-loved characters as you’ve never seen them before and enough (eco-friendly) glitter to keep you sparkling all the way home. Gather up your merfriends; it’s going to be one hell of a beach party.
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 sexy and unapologetically plus-sized. She’s not defined by slipper-sized feet, or enchanted blonde hair, or snow-white skin. Ursula is plump, purple and proud. A queer icon with a message for 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.
The transfer marks the fourth incarnation of the production, following two previous runs and a Christmas season. It will feature a brand-new set and costumes, new jokes, new characters and will play to a new running time of two hours including one interval.
Unfortunate the musical parody has book and lyrics by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx, with music by composer Tim Gilvin, direction by Robyn Grant, set and costume design by Jasmine Swan, choreography by Melody Sinclair-Marsh, puppetry and movement direction by Laura Cubitt, orchestration, music production, and music supervision by Nikki Davison & Joe Davison for Auburn Jam, sound design by Ian Dickinson for Autograph, lighting design by Adam King, puppet design by Mikayla Teodoro & Jasmine Swan, puppet makes by Mikayla Teodoro, casting direction by Will Burton, production management by James Anderton and associate direction by Eliza Beth Stevens. The creative associate is Allie Dart, theatrical magic consultant is Chris Cox, intimacy director is Maisie Carter, costume supervisor is Beth Qualter Buncall and props are by Props by Eve.
It is produced by Wildpark Entertainment (Lovestuck: A New Musical, Footballers’ Wives the Musical), Runaway Entertainment (The Hunger Games on Stage, Newsies), The Vaults (Stranger Sings), Stoddart Entertainment (Heathers the Musical Australia) and Dianne Roberts (Girl From The North Country, Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder).
Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch comes to The Other Palace from Friday, February 6, 2026, until Sunday, April 5, 2026. Tickets are on sale here.
Top image: Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch (image supplied)