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Magical new reimagining of The Little Mermaid comes to Leeds Playhouse

12th January 2026

Little M celebrates difference and embraces acceptance using puppetry and dance for audiences aged 8+

Have you ever wondered what’s below the surface? Little M takes audiences on a deep dive reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid for anyone who feels like they’re swimming against the tide.

Combining fantastical puppetry, magical transformations and spectacular dancing, this extraordinary coming-of-age story comes to the Courtyard Theatre at Leeds Playhouse on 17 February – the perfect time for a half-term family trip to the theatre.

Choreographed and co-directed by Anders Duckworth, and written and co-directed by Luke Skilbeck, Little M is an enchanting show aimed at children aged 8+ and their families.

Little M and their friend Punk the Puffer Fish find a suitcase filled with mysterious treasures, leading them to wonder about the ‘world above’. With their questions met by silence under the sea, they embark on an epic adventure intro the wondrous worlds above the waves and deep down below.

The creative team includes Designer EM Parry; Associate Costume Designer & Supervisor Eve Oakley; Associate Set Designer & Supervisor Kit Hinchliffe; Puppet Maker & Co-Designer Scamp Niemz; Lighting Designer Carey Chomsoonthorn; Composition & Sound Design Nicole Raymond/NikNak; Additional Music & Production Joseph Smith; Dancers Jose Funnell, Áine Reynolds, Naissa Bjørn, Tylee Jones; Production Manager Helen Mugridge; Stage Manager Florian Lim; Project Facilitator Orrow Bell; and Associate Direction ShayShay.