Edinburgh Reviews

Local reviews of places, sights and attractions

  • Businesses
  • Entertainment
  • Festival
  • Food
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • Et Al
You are here: Home / Festival / Review: Lindsey Cole’s The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo, Fringe 2025

Review: Lindsey Cole’s The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo, Fringe 2025

August 17, 2025 by Guest Reviewer Leave a Comment

Lindsey Cole’s The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo is a quirky, interactive family show that splashes together silliness with a gentle environmental message.

A mermaid’s eco adventure

At its heart is a story about rivers, how they become dirty, what that means for the creatures living there, and how we can work together to make them clean again. Seen through the eyes of children, it offers a playful introduction to eco-friendly thinking without ever feeling heavy handed.

Characters full of fun

Cole herself performs as the lively mermaid, steering the story with warmth and humour. Alongside her, a cheeky otter soft toy adds plenty of giggles, while the “big poo” lumbers in as a larger than life reminder of pollution.

Together, they create a colourful cast that helps children understand the themes of looking after the planet in a way that feels exciting and accessible.

Silly, messy, and interactive

The show is full of interactive moments, from dressing up volunteers to throwing fake poo onto the stage which, unsurprisingly, is a huge hit with younger audiences.

There’s singing, call-and-response, and chances for children to join in the action, keeping the energy high throughout.

While it’s not a perfectly polished piece of theatre, its loose, messy style works in its favour, allowing families to laugh, play, and learn together.

A family show with purpose

What makes The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo stand out is its ability to balance silliness with substance.

Children leave having had a fun, chaotic afternoon, but they also carry with them the important idea that rivers, wildlife, and nature need to be cared for.

It’s a playful way of introducing eco-consciousness to young minds, showing that even serious issues can be tackled with laughter.

Lindsey Cole’s The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo

Kirsten McLeod

Performance
Story & message
Audience participation
Overall fun factor

Summary

A quirky, interactive family-friendly show that’s silly but also comes a gentle environmental message. Great for kids learning about the importance of caring for nature.

4.8
BOOK NOW

Share this:

  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X

Related

The best pizza in Edinburgh!

Filed Under: Festival Tagged With: edfest, fringe 2025, lindsey cole

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Us

  • » We're not influencers,
  • » We're boots on the ground,
  • » We're opinionated,
  • » ... and we're friendly.
  • » You can sponsor the blog/socials.

Features

  • Solo eating in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Gift Vouchers
  • Edinburgh Christmas
  • Edinburgh Festival
  • Edinburgh Authors
  • Edinburgh Broadband
  • How to submit a review
  • Contact Us

Recent Reviews

  • Radar: Organisers send out an SOS to keep Deadinburgh Festival alive
  • A Play, a Pie, and a Pint: Off The Rails @ Assembly Roxy (Review)
  • Fiends in the Furrows 2026: ‘Enys Men’ (Review)
  • Review: Ernest & Bob, a hamburger restaurant on Leith Walk
  • News: Scotland’s largest Tabletop space – Thistle Tavern announces Edinburgh launch
  • Review: Pizza Geeks launches its new menu on Easter Road
  • A lost Joan Eardley painting has been rediscovered after 60+ years

About us

  • » Contact
  • » PR, media & us

Ads & Deals

  • » Sponsorship Deals

Copyright © 2026 — Edinburgh Reviews • All rights reserved.