Meet the Singing Mermaid Cast
Sam Baumal
Sam trained in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music. Most recently Sam has appeared as a puppeteer operating a in the European tour of The Herds (The Walk Productions), Bordello: The Musical (Workshop), The Great Christmas Sleigh Ride (Harlow Playhouse) and the UK tours of Dear Zoo and Tales From Acorn Wood (NLP).
What was your favourite story when you were young?
I loved 'The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark' by Jill Tomlinson, not least because of the fabulously named main character: Plop the barn owl!
Can you do any circus tricks?
I could do a very short handstand if you'd like?
Tell us a joke!
What do you call a Deer with no eyes? No Idea!
Katie Haygarth:
Katie graduated from LAMDA and quickly found a love of puppetry whilst working at Chessington World of Adventures. She then toured the UK in In The Night Garden Live before performing in the West End in The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She has toured the UK with various shows and even performed in an Opera in Valencia (as a puppet) as well as performing at The Mariofa Puppetry Festival in Madeira. Katie is a regular performer at The Little Angel Theatre, most recently in The Paper Dolls. She has also turned her hand to directing and is director on The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Puppet Director for The Dinosaur That Pooped a Rockshow and Dinosaurs Live.
What was your favourite story when you were young?
Hairy McClary from Donaldsons Dairy.
Can you do any circus tricks?
Yes! I can balloon model and do Diablo
Tell us a joke!
What do you get when you boil a clown? Laughing Stock. 😂
Louise Mellor
I trained at the Curious School of Puppetry and I studied Physical Theatre in Italy and Performing Arts at the University of Salford. I have performed in theatres, schools, libraries and forests all around the UK as well as abroad, including Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Robin Hood in Italy and The Jungle Book in China.
What was your favourite story when you were young?
The BFG by Roald Dahl. I once dressed up as Sophie for World Book Day!
Can you do any circus tricks?
I spent some time at a circus school in Turin where I learnt to walk the tight-wire and a couple of moves on the aerial silks. I’m not sure if I’d still be able to do them though, as I haven’t practised since. I can still do a head-stand though - does that count?
Tell us a joke!
What did the sea say to the mermaid? Nothing, it just waved.
- The Mermaid Katie Haygarth
- Annie the Acrobat Louise Mellor
- The Ringmaster Sam Baumal
- Associate Director Oliver Hymans
- Stage Manager Lucy Barter
- Re-lighter Jake Lawrence
- Adapted by Samantha Lane & Barb Jungr
- Music and Lyrics by Barb Jungr
- Original production directed by Samantha Lane
- Design by Laura McEwen
- Lighting Design by Sherry Coenen
- Puppets by Lyndie Wright
- Additional Puppets by Jan Zalud