Sea Change, Birmingham Hippodrome – Review

The metaphor of straddling two worlds appears in countless cultures across the globe and often has a preternatural element. Most people are familiar with the notion of mermaids. Less well-known are the Celtic/Norse myths about ‘selkies’ – seals who for a time adopt the appearance of human beings. In such tales, romantic relationships often arose, but not always with happy endings… Photos © Simon Hadley Sea Change is the latest musical from British Youth Musical Theatre. With music composed by Elinor Peregrin and the book, lyrics and direction by Will Jackson, Sea Change could be said to a spiritual successor to Hans Christian Anderson’s original take on The Little Mermaid. The show’s setting of the septennial tidal eclipse marks when the selkies can briefly walk amongst men and experience humanity before they return to the foam and surf. The sense of belonging (or not) is an important part of selkie girls’ journey, as it is for Isla (Ella McFetrich) the daughter of the lighthouse…