Raw Cornish shanties sung with gusto are guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart in a show that is awash with fun and song.
Fisherman’s Friends the Musical set sail into The King’s Theatre in Glasgow for a show which runs until Saturday, and it proved to be the catch of the day.
With an enthusiastic cast, colourful set and some heart stirring singing, the theatre was buzzing.
The musical is nearing the end of a lengthy UK tour, yet the professionals on stage performed as if it was their first showing.
The tale of a group of Cornish fishermen whose love of keeping alive their traditional songs as they worked and played, is well-known and led to a hit album in 2010 and films in 2019 and 2022.
But none of that takes the shine off the musical directed and written by James Grieve and Amanda Whittington.
Familiar television face James Gaddas plays Jim the skipper, tainted by all that life has thrown at him and suspicious when flashy London music promoter Danny (Jason Langley) discovers Jim and his crew singing after a hard day at sea.
The Fisherman’s Friends crew, made up of Jago (Robert Duncan), Leadville (Pete Gallagher) Rowan (Dan Buckley) Wiggy (Martin Carroll), Ben (Dakota Starr) and Archie (Hadrian Delacey) are persuaded to head to the capital to persuade record boss Leah (Fia Houston-Hamilton) to sign a deal.
There is a romantic spark between Danny and Jim’s daughter Alwyn (Parisa Shahmir, who has a wonderful singing voice) and humorous asides from Jim’s mum Maggie (Susan Penhaligon) and Rowan’s long suffering wife Sally (Hazel Monaghan).
Unassuming, but brilliant musicians Bran (Alfie Gidley), Freya (Hannah Cumming), Eddy (John O’Mahoney) Morwenna (Louisa Beadel), Grace (Beccy Hurst) and Owen (James William-Pattison) are joined by band members Hazel Askew and Mel Biggs, under the watchful eye of musical director James Findlay and the ensemble cast included Hazel Simmons, Janet Mooney, Nick Tizzard and Dominic Brewer.
Set designer Lucy Osborne brings authenticity to the production with a fabulous rig inspired and colourful set, which helps the whole production net in a happy and truly uplifted audience.
For more information on availability for the shows, which include matinees on Thursday and Saturday, please visit: www.atgtickets.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs by Pamela Raith
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