Little Mermaid

“The Little Mermaid” on the stage of the Harlequin Puppet Theater returns to its roots, that is, to the moving, ambiguous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It is a conscious and courageous return, and at the same time a dialogue with pop culture film adaptations that, over the years, smoothed the story, changed its meanings, characters and even the finale.

At the center of the story is the thirst for adventure and the desire to fulfill dreams at all costs. Little Mermaid is beautiful, brave and restless. She knows that the world does not end in the depths of the sea — and that awareness does not allow her to remain within the safe confines of her father's underwater kingdom. Unlike older sisters who have found their place in the familiar order, the Mermaid wants more: to experience, to take risks, to push boundaries. When she falls in love with a man, the Prince, who is self-absorbed and not always capable of empathy, her life is turned upside down. In the name of love, the heroine decides to make painful sacrifices: she gives her voice to the Witch, abandons her fish tail, gives up her own nature. Will the Prince be worth it? Can any partnership survive at all without talking and without mutual understanding? And finally — is marriage really the most important goal a young girl can face?

These and other questions are echoed in the adaptation by Maria Wojtyszko, directed by Jakub Kroft. They are a duo of creators known for their uncompromising, critical look at stereotypes related to gender, family and upbringing. Their “Little Mermaid” does not moralize, but leads viewers through a story full of irony, tenderness and unobvious meanings. He also enters into a bold dialogue with the Disney version of the fairy tale and reminds us that classic tales not only can, but even should, ask uncomfortable questions.

The show has a distinctly musical character: it is full of songs, movement and dance. The music carries the narrative, pulsates with the emotions of the characters, and the choreography intertwines with the story, creating a vivid, colorful world. The costumes designed by Matilda Kotlińska dazzle with form and color, emphasizing the fairytale character of the show and at the same time its contemporary sensibility.

The scenography for the performance was created by Matylda Kotlińska, the music was composed by Marcin “Sosna” Sosiński, the choreography was prepared by Milena Czarnik, the visuals by Magdalena Parszewska, and the light direction by Damian Pawella. The title role of the Mermaid is played by Joanna Nygard.

The premiere of the performance took place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 17.00 on the Big Stage of the Harlequin Puppet Theater. On selected dates, the performance is performed with translation into Polish Sign Language and with audio description.

The performance is co-financed by the City of Łódź.