Review: Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story

📍 Ermintrude, Underbelly, Bristo Square

🗓️ 20th August 2026

🎟️ PR Invite

Set just after Cinderella’s wedding to Prince Charming, Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story follows the sisters as they return home with their mother and wonder why they never get their Happily Ever After. The answer is simple - they’re simply not beautiful enough, at least that’s the opinion of their mother, who banishes them and demands they don’t return home until they find husbands of their own.

This show is fun, silly and vocally impressive, with a really lovely story lying beneath it. I do see this appealing to children more than adults, but there’s definitely something for everyone in there - and who doesn’t want to let their inner child enjoy some light-hearted and well-performed fun!

The cast in this show are really great - vocally brilliant and really capture the essence of their characters. Agnes (Amber Hegarty) and Olga (Hannah McRoche) are incredibly different in their expectations of life, and both performers do a great job of bringing this to the stage. Elliot Wooster creates some fairy godfather magic and does it with energy and a sense of wonder, while Nicky Douglas, as the sisters’ cruel mother, acts as the villain of the story. Douglas often breaks the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly and creating mischief, which is a fun way of adding another layer to the production.

Costumes and lighting also help to elevate the story, while clever use of one set piece turns it into several different locations throughout the production. Scene changes are seamless, with the show overall wonderfully paced. The storyline may be straightforward, but it is one you can absolutely get lost in. There are plenty of laughs from all of the characters, with an important message lying beneath the fun. Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story is an easy show to fall in love with and one that is sure to entertain children and adults alike.

Overall, Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story is 60 minutes of pure joy - packed with fun, fantastic characters, brilliant performances and a really lovely story at its heart. A thoroughly enjoyable and feel-good morning at the theatre.

Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story runs at Ermintrude, Underbelly, Bristo Square until 31 August at 11:40am.