FIRST LOOK: REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED AHEAD OF FESTIVE SEASON FOR THE MUSICAL PARODY ‘UNFORTUNATE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF URSULA THE SEA WITCH’ AT LOWRY SALFORD
STARRING SAM BUTTERY AS URSULA
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 11 JANUARY 2026
The critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch has unveiled first-look rehearsal images ahead of its Christmas season at Lowry, Salford. The show makes a splash from Friday 5 December 2025 to Sunday 11 January 2026 for five weeks of outrageous festive fun.
Leading the cast in the iconic role of the sea witch Ursula is Sam Buttery - A familiar face on Manchester’s cabaret scene and a regular on the hit Netflix series Kaos. Sam’s stage credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Sheffield Theatres) and The Addams Family Musical (London Palladium).
Alongside Sam the cast includes Miracle Chance (Fangirls, The Witches, Heathers) as Ariel; Allie Dart (The Comedy About Spies, 2:22 A Ghost Story) reprising her role as Sebastian; Blair Robertson (Witness for the Prosecution, Mamma Mia) as King Triton; James Spence as Prince Eric. They are joined by Ensemble cast members Freya McMahon and Fionan O’Carroll.
Returning to Lowry for its third visit following two sold-out runs, this brand-new production features fresh set and costume designs and a revised running time of two hours including an interval. Tickets are on sale now at thelowry.com.
When Disney released The Little Mermaid in 1989, they created an icon. Ursula—the loud, clever, unapologetically plus-sized sea witch—became a pop culture legend and a feminist badass. Now, she’s ready to spill all in this tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers: a laugh-a-minute dive into her backstory, packed with a filthy pop soundtrack, beloved characters as you’ve never seen them before, and enough eco-friendly glitter to keep you sparkling all the way home.
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.
Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch first premiered with a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in summer 2019, before heading to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio that Christmas. The show then transferred to Underbelly Earls Court in London and returned for a second sell-out Edinburgh run in 2022. In December 2023 the production returned to London for an 11-week run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant prior to a six-month UK tour in 2024. The Swedish-language production had its Nordic premiere in Sweden in September.
Unfortunate the musical parody has book and lyrics by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx, with music by award-winning composer Tim Gilvin. Casting is by Will Burton CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.
Age guidance: 16+