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DIRECTOR’S NOTES
Bringing The Little Mermaid to the stage has been a truly meaningful journey—one that connects deeply with my own love of storytelling, imagination, and the timeless magic of theatre.
This story, with its themes of curiosity, courage, and finding one’s voice, has always resonated with me. To see it come to life through the dedication of this remarkable team has been a joy beyond words.
Thanks to QR codes, I am delighted to share many punny thank yous and some background about the design.
Happy reading!
Sophianne K. Roberts
THANK YOUS
To my cast: thank you for diving in with such enthusiasm, heart, and dedication. Your wave of energy, openness to coaching, and eagerness to grow have been both refreshing and inspiring. You’ve brought both land and sea to vibrant life with honesty and joy, and your commitment has made this creative journey one I will always treasure.
To Kaya, my incredible assistant director, choreographer, and designer: Your passion, creativity, talent, care, and partnership have made waves throughout this production—rippling through every scene, step, and detail. I am deeply grateful for every moment (read: abundant hours) of this journey we've navigated together.
To Karen & Gilaine, the production team: your tireless work behind the scenes has been the current that keeps this show afloat. Your attention to detail has steered this production with heart—often unseen, but never unappreciated.
A special thank you to Debbie, our brilliant costume designer: your keen eye and meticulous attention to detail have made a splash in every scene. Your artistry has transformed our cast into a truly fin-tastic undersea world, bringing our story to vibrant life.
To our vocal director, Miriam, band leader, Sarah and all the musicians: the preparedness and energy you brought to our sitzprobe sent waves through the room. You gave our cast the wind in their sails, and the music you play continues to carry this show on a soaring tide of sound.
To my lighting guy, Aiden: it’s been a joy to guide you through the rough waters of lighting design. Your drive to dive deep and shine through challenges has truly made a splash. Keep riding the current—you’re glowing.
To parent volunteers: Your behind-the-scenes efforts have been the steady current beneath our waves—quiet, powerful, and essential. Your time, energy, and care have helped this production stay afloat and sail smoothly.
To all parents: Thank you for encouraging your children to wade into unfamiliar waters, to let their light shimmer onstage, and to find their unique voice in the tide of storytelling. Your support has helped them dive deeper into themselves and rise with confidence.
And to you, the audience: Thank you for anchoring this moment with your presence. By being here, you are not only witnessing a performance—you are casting your vote for the power of youth theatre, for the beauty of collaboration, and for the transformative depths of creativity. Your support sends ripples far beyond tonight’s show.
Enjoy the performance.
I am truly thrilled you’ve chosen to swim with us.
SKR
Designing with Intention: A Philosophy of Reduction, Reuse, and Reinvention
In Scene 9 of The Little Mermaid, King Triton condemns his daughter for idolizing “the debris that sullies our waters”—a poignant moment that questions the value of what we discard. Inspired by this idea, I embraced a design challenge: to create a production that not only tells a story but lives its message—by repurposing, reusing, and recycling as many elements as possible.
This creative experiment became a communal endeavor. Heartfelt thanks to my family, friends, collaborators, and our incredible cast for helping this vision flow from concept to creation. And a special nod to the unsung heroes of Facebook Marketplace, whose listings proved a treasure trove of potential.
Just as the ocean takes what is lost and turns it into new life, this production is a celebration of transformation—of casting off the old to build something enduring, meaningful, and beautiful.
Chairs in the Current: The Curious Case of Underwater Seating
“Why so many chairs under the sea?” you may ask.
Historically, the ocean floor has claimed countless ships—and with them, an untold number of chairs. This curious accumulation of human artifacts, once considered pollution, can become part of something much larger. Marine biologists have long observed that sunken ships and debris often serve as the foundation for artificial reefs. Over time, coral larvae settle on these structures, turning refuse into refuge and creating habitats teeming with life.
In our production, these chairs evoke that very transformation—a symbolic convergence of human history and oceanic rebirth.
Chairs in Merfolk Lore: Imagining an Ocean of Stories
In the world I envisioned for our merfolk, chairs take on a deeper, more sentimental role. Just as humans pass down heirlooms, these underwater royals cherish human artifacts—especially chairs—for their elegance, variety, and symbolism.
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Ariel’s Childhood Chair is a quiet keepsake, tucked away in her grotto. It is the last chair she used before her mother passed—a memory made tangible. It speaks of innocence, love, and the longing for what once was.
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The Mersisters’ Chairs, found not in the palace but in their “Girl Cave,” reflect adolescence—each one a relic of their growing years. With iridescent finishes reminiscent of both teen-targeted design and shimmering sea shells, these chairs embody the vibrant, expressive spirit of sisterhood.
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Triton and Ursula’s Chairs share a common origin, hinting at the siblings' shared past. Yet, how they are maintained tells a different tale: Triton’s chair stands in pristine condition, a testament to his discipline and duty. Ursula’s, meanwhile, is worn and fractured—echoing the chaos and bitterness she harbors, and her neglect of even the smallest gestures of kindness.
In crafting these details, I sought to reflect the way objects hold meaning, mirroring the tides of memory, grief, growth, and power. Chairs, in this imagined oceanic lore, are not mere furniture—they are vessels of identity, emotion, and legacy.
ARIEL’S ROCK
Perched high above the waves, Ariel’s Rock is her window to the unknown—a sacred space where dreams surface and imagination sails beyond the horizon. Fashioned from a repurposed stage box and cloaked in weathered cardboard, it invites us to ponder the possibilities that lie "outside the box."
Reflection: Like the tide brushing against the shore, ideas are born when boundaries erode. Ariel’s Rock reminds us that curiosity is the current that carries us beyond familiar waters.
ERIC’S SHIP
Eric’s vessel, assembled from stage boxes, an old stair railing, a discarded wagon wheel, PVC piping, a bed comforter, and particle board, is more than a ship—it is a floating sanctuary. A place where duty ebbs and freedom flows. Built with love and teamwork, it is a symbol of family voyages taken together. Thank you to my husband, and my 2 adult offspring who jumped in to help with the design and build of this recycling project.
Reflection: Like a ship built of many parts, life is crafted from the flotsam of our experiences. What matters is not how pristine the materials, but how unified the vessel. Even disparate pieces can sail in harmony when bound by purpose.
TRITON’S THRONE
Inspired by the iconic Iron Throne and sculpted from repurposed cardboard and egg cartons, this seat of power celebrates a sovereign who reigns not with iron, but with wisdom, humility, and a touch of yolk. Triton is, quite literally, an EGGceptional king!
Reflection: Power need not be forged in steel. Like water, it can be fluid yet strong, humble yet profound. Triton’s throne reminds us that true authority flows from care, not conquest.
URSULA’S LAIR
A den of dark desires and whispered bargains, Ursula’s Lair is crafted from cast-off shirts donated by the cast, a broken chair base for a cauldron pedestal, and reused cardboard. Her cauldron puffs with mystery, while water jugs house eerie experiments—cloned echoes of her own twisted form.
Reflection: The ocean has its depths, and so do we. What festers in the shadows can also reveal truths. Ursula’s Lair warns that unchecked ambition, like stagnant water, breeds distortion—but even dark currents are part of the sea.
ARIEL’S GROTTO
Constructed from humble cardboard boxes and adorned with secondhand treasures, Ariel’s Grotto is her secret trove—a quiet tidepool of memory and longing, away from royal expectation. Here, her soul drifts freely among forgotten things that once sparked wonder.
Reflection: In the depths of solitude, we rediscover the currents of self. Just as the ocean shelters hidden gems, so too do we find value in what others discard. Ariel’s Grotto whispers that beauty is often boxed in—until we dare to unpack it.
MERSISTER CAVE
This intimate alcove is a haven of sisterhood and song. Featuring shell-shaped Muskoka chairs—echoes of human dock-side leisure—this retreat invites laughter to ripple like waves against the rocks.
Reflection: Connection, like water, seeks its level. In places of rest and communion, our voices harmonize, and our spirits float. The Mersister Cave reminds us that peace is a shared tide.
ARIEL’S CHAMBRES
Furnished with a weathered chaise and antique screen, Ariel’s private quarters hold untold stories—tales etched into the fabric of time. If these relics could speak, they'd sing of dreams long submerged and secrets gently carried by the sea.
Reflection: The past flows through us like an underground spring—silent, steady, enduring. Ariel’s Chambres offer a quiet pool of reflection, where history and hope meet.
CHEF LOUIS’ KITCHEN
This bustling kitchen table, though a new build, is destined for further voyages in The Travelling Stage’s upcoming production of The Little Mermaid. A functional creation, it serves the art with sustainability and foresight.
Reflection: Like a stream that serves many fields, creativity must be reusable to remain vibrant. In this kitchen, resourcefulness simmers and purpose is plated with care.
THE DINING ROOM
The same table stars in both kitchen and dining scenes—an elegant solution to material excess. Every prop but the matching domes was sourced secondhand, proving that beauty can resurface in the most sustainable ways.
Reflection: The same river never flows twice, yet its essence endures. So too with this table—ever the same, yet ever new in context. It teaches us that simplicity and sustainability can dine together.
THE BAY
This newly constructed rowboat and its matching oars will return in future productions, charting new journeys through the Travelling Stage’s work. Though fresh from the workshop, they are already vessels of stories yet to be told.
Reflection: Every voyage begins with a single ripple. This boat is a symbol of beginnings—proof that what is crafted with intention can navigate time and tide alike.
THE CORAL
A singular new piece, gracefully framed by borrowed coral artwork, this set element has now seen its second life in our production. Its journey continues, as it will once again grace the stage this summer in The Travelling Stage’s upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid Jr.—a testament to sustainable design and enduring beauty beneath the waves.
Reflection: In nature, coral grows slowly—layer by layer—creating vibrant ecosystems from the remnants of time. Likewise, this piece reminds us that beauty and meaning are not confined to a single moment or place. Art, like the sea, thrives through continuity, transformation, and reuse.
THE COSTUMES
I am delighted to have rented this beautifully crafted collection, lovingly designed and altered for our cast by Debbie Begg. These garments were first brought to life under the direction of Liz Auston with the Scugog Choral Society. Their story does not end here—I am confident they will continue to sparkle and enchant in productions yet to come.
Reflection: A costume is more than fabric stitched into form; it is a vessel of memory, character, and spirit. Like seashells washed ashore, these garments carry echoes of past performances, whispering tales of those who once brought them to life. They remind us that artistry endures—not just in what we make, but in what we choose to pass on.