The world can seem to have nothing but doom and gloom at the moment – but Fermanagh’s longest-running musical theatre group, Enniskillen Light Operatic (ELO), are doing all they can to blow the dark clouds away.

After a Covid-enforced three-year-wait, ELO are finally bringing a full-scale musical back to the stage of the Ardhowen Theatre – and they’re back with a bang, with ELO’s 25th production seeing the group presenting ‘Disney’s Little Mermaid’.

This is the first time that any of our local community theatre groups have brought a Disney show to life, and ELO Chair John McCann promises it’s going to be spectacular.

“It’s such a joy to be back onstage with a full show,” he says. “The Addams Family in 2019 was the last time we produced a full musical, and finally being able to stage another is fantastic.

“We’ve pulled out all the stops and gone big. The set will be spectacular, and the costumes are as vibrant and exciting as you’d expect for Disney – it’s going to be really something.”

Continuing, John said: “We have a great cast; a real mix of faces old and new. Clodagh Sweeney, our lead as Ariel, is an incredibly talented young actress who has been with ELO since 2018 when she appeared as an orphan in Annie, whilst Prince Eric is played by Harry Parkinson, another talented young actor making his stage debut with us.”

Well-known actor Paul Doherty returns to ELO as King Triton. Paul last appeared with ELO as Fagin in the 2011 production of ‘Oliver’. Sharing the stage in Oliver with Paul, as Nancy, was Brenda Swift – but this time out Brenda is delivering a more sinister performance as the evil and scheming Ursula The Sea Witch.

John continued: “As you might imagine, the show is fast-moving and very-funny. It’s packed with brilliant, well-known songs such as ‘Part of Your World’, ‘Under the Sea’, and ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’.

“A really great night’s entertainment is guaranteed and a very welcome escape from life’s everyday cares for young and old alike awaits. As Walt Disney himself said, ‘Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, dreams are forever’,” he added.

Disney’s Little Mermaid runs in the Ardhowen Theatre from Thursday, November 24 until Saturday, December 3. Tickets are on sale now.