BE PREPARED FOR A MERMAID STORM

BE PREPARED to witness a world premiere water-theatre spectacular at Ireland's largest and most prestigious festival, Galway Arts Festival this year, as award-winning Big Telly Theatre Company presents Hans Christian Andersen's original well-loved fairytale The Little Mermaid in Leisureland swimming pool on 13 and 14 July, as part of the Festival's phenomenal 2005 line up.

The Little Mermaid production was a sell out success in the North and has received phenomenal reviews.

Spectacle, magical lighting, visual effects, and music will re-tell the heart-warming story of The Little Mermaid's first visit to the surface in the world's first theatre performance in water. Highlights of this unique performance include a raging storm that shipwrecks the Prince, a dramatic encounter with a Sea Witch and the beautiful mermaids' ball. The Little Mermaid will be the most unusually spectacular theatre production to be staged in water and reflects Big Telly's originality, for which it has become renowned. Years of development and months of preparation has seen the incredible challenge of producing a theatre performance in water become a reality. The impressive cast and a wonderfully imaginative set combined with mystical lighting, beautifully decorative specially designed costumes for the water, carnival style masks and sea creature puppets, add to the spectacular effects achieved both above and below the water to create a magnificently unique performance.

Big Telly's charming production of The Little Mermaid will open as part of Galway Arts Festival 2005 on Wednesday 13 July at Leisureland, before embarking on an international tour during the summer. The production has proved so popular, it has been invited to attend Taipei Children's Festival 2005, Taiwan, the Hans Christian Andersen Bicentenary Anniversary Festival in Denmark, Shanghai International Arts Festival 2005, China, and Toronto Arts Festival 2006, Canada. The Little Mermaid project also coincides with the Year of the Sea 2005 celebrations.

Zoë Seaton, Artistic Director and Co-founder of Big Telly Theatre Company said, "I have been lucky enough to direct several site-specific productions in England over the last ten years. Inspiration for The Little Mermaid probably began when working with floating candlelit barges and magical creatures that walked on water." Zoë and Paul Boyd, creators of the production, are delighted to see the vision for the Little Mermaid project becoming a reality. "We are extremely excited about the prospects for The Little Mermaid and hope that children and the young at heart, from every walk of life, will enjoy this unique adaptation of the famous story. Developing the performances in swimming pools is a challenge, but with valuable support from synchronised swimming experts, we are able to create a production with a completely new approach," Zoë said.

The cast of actors with exceptional swimming ability and experienced crew, including two full time divers, who are under the water during the performance to facilitate dramatic stunts, have produced the show with only three weeks rehearsal, following an intense swimming training programme, and are ensuring a high energy food diet.

Big Telly's plans are opening new doors for the world of theatre, embarking on new concepts, encouraging accessibility for everyone. The company is confident that the spectacle of carnival-style theatre in water could bring a whole new dimension to the accessibility of theatre to young and old alike.

Don't miss your chance to see the show. For full performance details and to book your tickets, please contact Galway Arts Festival box office on 091 566577 or through the website at www.galwayartsfestival.com.

The performance is non verbal and suitable for children over five years of all abilities. Please be advised that performances include the use of strobe lighting.