Showing @ Underbelly Cowgate, Edinburgh until Sun 24 Aug (not 13) @ 17:20

Fringe audiences are no stranger to reinterpretations of fairytales. A quick glance at the extensive programme will pick out several. Lucy Ayrton therefore has a lot to live up to with The Splitting of the Mermaid and she does not disappoint.

Ayrton‘s re-imagining of The Little Mermaid gives us a contemporary setting and a modern voice to present the story. Ayrton embodies several characters throughout her performance and it is they who make this familiar story seem unpredictable and fresh. She puts herself wholeheartedly into every word that each character expresses and the result is an endearing and engaging story told with vigour and passion.

The Splitting of the Mermaid is billed as a spoken word show, but could just as easily be seen as theatre. Ayrton is just as comfortable on stage as any actor and her narration and ability hold the audiences attention is as compelling as any spoken word performer. This is storytelling in its finest form, as Ayrton has the ability to express herself in an intimate and passionate manner. Hopefully there will more unique and personal fairytales to bestow on enthralled audiences in the future.

Showing as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014