Unfortunate - The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch explained

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch
Lyrics:Robyn Grant
Daniel Foxx
Premiere Date:2019
Premiere Location:Edinburgh Fringe
Music:Tim Gilvin
Basis:
Productions:2019 Edinburgh
2022 Edinburgh
2023 London Run
2024 UK Tour

Unfortunate - The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch is a revisionist parody musical of Disney's Little Mermaid.[1] Ursula becomes the main character in the musical by Robyn Grant which was first performed in 2019 at the Edinburgh Fringe.[2] In 2024 it tours the UK.[3] [4]

Production History

Edinburgh Fringe (2019)

The world premiere production of Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch took place at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as a presentation by Fat Rascal Theatre. The show ran from 31 July 2019 to 26 August 2019 at Underbelly, Bristo Square (Ermintrude).[5]

Edinburgh Fringe (2022)

The musical ran again at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, after being reworked, from 4 August 2022 until 29 August 2022 at Underbelly, George Square (Underbelly).[6] This was reportedly a sell out run.

London Run (2023-2024)

Before it's UK Tour, Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch had a London Run staged at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 8 December 2023 to 17 February 2024.[7]

UK Tour (2024)

The Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch UK Tour Launched at The Lowry in Salford on 22 February 2024 and closed at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on 14 July 2024.[8]

Original Principal Casts

Role !Edinburgh Fringe!Edinburgh Fringe [9] !London Run and UK Tour[10]
201920222023-24
UrsulaRobyn GrantElliotte Williams-N'DureShawna Hamic
ArielKatie WellsMiracle Chance River Medway
TritonSteffan RizziGeorge Whitty Thomas Lowe
SebastianAllie MunroAllie Munro Allie Dart (Allie Munro)
EricJamie MawsonJamie Mawson Jamie Mawson
GrimsbyJulian Capolei
Scuttle †Jack Gray
EnsembleCorrina Buchan, Jack Gray, Jamie Mckillop and Milly Willows
† Not credited in the Tour Cast as their own character but is still in the show and played by a member of the ensemble.

Musical Numbers

Act One

Act Two

Bonus Track

† Not included on studio cast recording

Cast Recordings

Studio Cast Recording (2024)

The Original Studio Cast recording for Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch was released digitally by Wildpark Entertainment on 14 June 2024.[11]

Le Petite Albume (2024)

Before a full album was released in June 2024, a mini album was released on 12 January 2024 by Wildpark Entertainment. It was called "Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch - The Musical Parody - Le Petite Albume (Original Soundtrack)" and featured 3 songs as a teaser and was used for promotion. The song on the album are "Suckin' on You", "Unfortunate" and "Ask the Girl". It is listed as an EP and not an Album, as the full cast recording is.

Fringe Cast Recording (2020)

On 9 April 2020 Fat Rascal Ltd released a Fringe cast recording featuring the 5 songs: "Nasty", "we Didn't Make It to Disney", "Unfortunate", "Female Role Models" and "To Be King". This EP is no longer publicly avaliable to listen to.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/DT.2024.112.47a . 10.12968/DT.2024.112.47a . 2024-04-25.
  2. News: Stone . Mee-Lai . 19 August 2020 . All dressed up with nowhere to play: Edinburgh's stranded fringe stars – in pictures . the Guardian.
  3. News: Wyver . Kate . 12 January 2024 . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch review – a chaotic camp delight . The Guardian.
  4. News: Ferris . Nick . 10 January 2024 . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch: The Little Mermaid gets Wicked . The Telegraph.
  5. Web site: Guide . British Comedy . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch . 2024-07-12 . British Comedy Guide . en.
  6. Web site: Guide . British Comedy . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch . 2024-07-12 . British Comedy Guide . en.
  7. Web site: 2023-10-19 . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch reveals cast for new London run and UK tour . 2024-07-12 . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2024-04-24 . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch Tour . 2024-07-12 . en-GB.
  9. Web site: 2023-06-09 . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch in Edinburgh: Theatre tickets, show details, cast, and more . 2024-07-12 . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2023-07-24 . Cast & Creative Unfortunate Musical . 2024-07-12 . unfortunatemusical.com . en-GB.
  11. Web site: 14 June 2024 . Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch releases cast album . live . Whats On Stage.
  12. Web site: Limited . London Theatre Direct . 2020-05-12 . Hit Edinburgh musical Unfortunate releases Fringe Cast Recording Album . 2024-07-12 . London Theatre Direct . en.