Fisherman’s Friends The Musical At Mayflower Theatre Review

Reviewed by Jane Warwick

The true story of a group of singing fishermen from Port Isaac in Cornwall who caught the eye of a musical executive from London and became the first traditional folk act to land a UK top ten album is well known. Firstly, their debut album went gold, then they toured numerous pop festivals including Glastonbury and in 2019 the film Fisherman’s Friends was released followed by a second movie Fisherman’s Friends One and All in 2022. Now it is the turn of a stage show and the musical, based on the unlikely, but true, signing of a major record deal for the group played to an enthusiastic audience at The Mayflower, Southampton last night.

This is a feel-good show (perfect for Valentine’s Day), which combines traditional songs of the sea with more contemporary folk music and a large dash of humour. The story celebrates friendship, community and music and is a perfect tonic to lift the spirits. The overall production is well produced although the story line is a little thin. The music though is excellent and there is an overflowing abundance of songs (over 30!).

The heart warming story is simple and tells of a washed up music executive, Danny (convincingly played by Jason Langley) being blown away by the sea shanty singing of a bunch of Cornish fishermen. He eventually cajoles them to visit London and play for a record label CEO who initially can see no commercial merit in their traditional music. However, a video of their performance goes viral on social media and so a record deal is signed, and the group become famous. Against this backdrop there is a focus on the band’s unofficial leader Jim (James Gaddas), and his relationship with his daughter Alwyn (Parisa Shahmir), and parents Jago (Robert Duncan), and Maggie (played by the understudy Janet Mooney). There is of course a love interest (between Danny and Alwyn) and plenty of banter with other members of the band. All the performers were excellent although Parisa Shahmir and James Gaddas were exceptional. The script is solid and there is plenty of friendly banter, Cornish humour, and some amusing digs at the tension between local village folks and rich visiting tourists (Emmets)

The set, designed by Lucy Osborne, was very clever. Starting in a fishing boat at sea and ending on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, it transformed into a pub, dock, gay bar and church recording studio with the minimum of disruption. This was complemented by Johanna Town’s moody lighting scheme and some simple but effective sound effects.
Of course, the music is the key to this show and in addition to the superb singing of the main characters the ensemble cast also play an array of instruments, both traditional and modern, guaranteed to get the audience tapping their feet.
Overall, this is a heart warming, engaging story of love and loss with a soundtrack of foot stomping music by the most unlikely ‘Buoys Band’. It may be rather lightweight, but it is still great fun and well worth seeing.
The show was written by Amanda Whittington and directed by James Grieve. It made its world premiere in Truro in October 2021 and is now starting a UK tour. It is playing at The Mayflower Theatre from February 14-18 and then continues to 11 other venues.

The Mayflower is an excellent venue and a deservedly popular theatre. It is the largest theatre on the South coast with over 2300 seats. There are well- stocked bars and the facility to bring your drinks into the auditorium, plus a range of ice-creams and sweets which are often an essential ingredient for a theatre show. There is good parking and a good selection of restaurants within easy reach of the theatre making it the ideal place for an enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

The programme informs you of the cast, and an outline of what this musical is about but there could have had more information on the actual story as it assumes everyone has seen the films. The programme gives details of further events taking place at the Mayflower and advertises their afternoon teas, VIP experiences and hiring of rooms. However, I did learn from the programme, the origins of word shanty. It is said to come from ‘chanter’, the French verb to sing whilst the call and response pattern is said to have originated in African American work songs at ports in West Indies and the Deep South.

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £12-£49.50.
Fisherman’s Friends The Musical is at Mayflower theatre, Southampton from February 14th to February 18th. For more information or to book tickets visit https://www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on or call the box-office on 02380 711811

Address of theatre: 22-26 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1GE