First established in response to the need for live theatre in rural areas, Mermaid Theatre-based in Windsor, Nova Scotia-swiftly rose to international acclaim. Author Alice Walsh uses Mermaid's productions, from The Happy Prince to Guess How Much I Love You, to tell the story of the company's evolution in the history of Canadian theatre. Walsh describes the first steps taken by its founders and provides an extensive look at the development of each production, as well as the creative trends and decisions that have contributed to Mermaid's stellar reputation amongst children, parents, educators and directors.