Full casting announced for UNFORTUNATE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF URSULA THE SEA WITCH at Lowry
The critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch has announced full casting for its forthcoming Christmas season, splashing into Lowry, Salford for five weeks from 5 December 2025 - 11 January 2026.
The cast includes Sam Buttery (Kaos, Netflix) as Ursula, Miracle Chance (Fangirls, Lyric Hammersmith) as Ariel, Allie Dart (The Comedy About Spies, West End) returns to reprise her role as Sebastian, Blair Robertson (Witness for the Prosecution, West End) will play King Triton, and James Spence will play Prince Eric. They are joined by ensemble cast members, Freya McMahon and Fionan O’Carroll.
Returning to Lowry for a third visit following two previous sold-out runs, this new production of Unfortunate features brand-new set and costumes and will play to a new running time of two hours including one interval.
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.
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.
Unfortunate has a book and lyrics by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx, with music by award-winning composer Tim Gilvin, and casting by Will Burton CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting. Further creative team is to be announced.