Six million spectators and counting
“That’s a lot of children, families and individuals,” said Everson, who signed on as Mermaid’s GM earlier this year.
Promoting a lifelong love of reading
“Because of the work we do, we’re promoting literacy and a love of reading. All of our productions are drawn from storybooks. That enhances their interest and enthusiasm and going to the books,” said Lewis.
Lewis said they thoroughly enjoy interacting with the children at the conclusion of the show — there’s a question and answer period — and said what the children have to say can be both funny and illuminating.
“The first time we did Goodnight Moon, which is a 65- yearold book, Jim Morrow ( the artistic director) asked the kids, ‘ well, what do you think?’ and one kid got up and said, ‘ well, the bowl of mush is on the wrong side of the table.’ So Jim said, ‘ it won’t happen again,’” Lewis recalled, laughing.
“We do a straight reading of the book.”
Lewis said children are so familiar with the characters that Mermaid’s adaptations have to be spot on.
“We find that our audience is often three to seven and they like an exact reading of the book. You make any changes... they’re not happy because they’re very familiar with the character and who says what when,” she noted.
As the books that they select to make into stage production are often published in multiple languages, Lewis said they are able to bridge many language gaps and tour the world.
“The books are published, sometimes, in 50 languages so we can do the story in that language by using a narrator who speaks that language,” she said. “That’s how we’re able to perform in Mandarin.”
Mermaid Theatre’s largest export market is the United States, with China coming in second. Lewis said the company generated 23 per cent of its earned revenue in China last year, and they anticipate similar results this year.
Lewis said Mermaid’s performers are often on the road for three to nine months at a time — they are flown home for Christmas — and get to experience a wide variety of cultures. Senior management also gets the opportunity to travel with the company.
“Join Mermaid and see the world. It’s a wonderful opportunity, both personally and professionally,” Lewis said.
She said they also offer “puppetry instruction from cradle to career.”
Through the Institute of Puppetry Arts, which was launched in 1998, Mermaid Theatre’s puppetry experts offer both inhouse and outreach workshops. They also operate a three- week hands- on instructional program called Animotion each spring.
Later this month, seven people will be participating in Animotion from Nova Scotia, plus two from Ontario and one