The concept, score and libretto of The Merman King were originally inspired by and written for students and guests of Ysgol Erw'r Delyn, Palmerston Primary School and Touch Trust, three Cardiff-based organisations that specialise in the education (Ysgol Erw'r Delyn, Palmerston) and touch based therapy (Touch Trust) of young people with learning difficulties and profound and multiple disabilities.

This summer students from Rookery School and Hamilton Special School performed The Merman King at The Patrick Centre, Birmimgham Hippodrome at 1.30pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday 20 May.

The performance was directed by Karen Hayes and conducted by Lucy Griffiths.

The Merman King itself tells the story of a journey…
One journey, told within the context of a 25-minute opera, is a response to exploration of Homer's Odyssey. A Merman Boy finds himself washed up on shore... without his tail, but with a golden crown in his hand. He has been chosen by his fellow sea creatures to be King of the Underwater World, but the Merman Boy is not confident that he is up to the job. The Merman King follows our hero's quest to regain his tail, along the way encountering a cast of characters - a Lion, Chimp and Elephant - who try, but firmly fail, to shake his confidence and derail him from his path. The Merman King is supported throughout his quest by the presence of Water, played by a very special group of young people, a constant choir of comfort and wisdom, there in times of need to remind the Merman Boy who he is and what he is capable of. The journey ultimately shows the boy that he does, in fact, embody all of the honourable qualities that The Merman King should possess, and that he has done all along.

Composer John O'Hara Designer & Director Richard Aylwin Narrative Design Karen Hayes Librettist Claire Williamson Baritone & Vocal Animateur Owen Webb