Fisherman’s Friends The Musical at Theatre Royal, Nottingham Review
TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Fisherman’s Friends The Musical this week is gracing the boards at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal. The theatre is located in the centre of the city close to transport and restaurants.
Based on a true story of Cornish fishermen who come together as a chorus to sing the traditional working songs they had sung for generations, this feel-good musical brings the salty sea air and sunshine to a cold and gloomy Nottingham evening.
As the curtain rises, we hear the toe-tapping folk songs sung by the sailors out at sea casting their nets. The star-studded cast consists of many theatre, TV, and film household names. James Gaddas leads the cast as Jim. We learn his wife, also a talented singer left him for the bright lights of London. His daughter, Alwyn played by Parisa Shahmir has a hauntingly beautiful voice which she is very modest of, and she sings under duress for their friends as they gather in the pub in the evening. Jago is her 72 year old Grandfather, played by Robert Duncan and Susan Penhaligion plays her funfilled Grandmother, Maggie. The band of lobster catchers are lifelong friends, joining Jim and Jago are Rowan played by Dan Buckley, Archie played by Hadrian Delacey, Wiggy played by Pete Gallagher and Ben played by Datoka Starr,
New boy in town is Danny, played tonight brilliantly by understudy Dominic Brewer, is a Londoner visiting the village for a wedding. He finds himself out of his depth amongst the townsfolk as his car is swept away to sea and he loses the key to his B&B. However, as his career has been in the music business he is blown away by the talent he hears in the band of fisherman and makes it his ambition to find them fame.
The set design, by award-winning Lucy Osbourne, very cleverly transforms from a fishing boat at sea to a pub to a London nightclub and much more seamlessly.
The talented musicians are on stage throughout the performance, led by Musical Director James William-Pattison on double bass, mandolin and tenor banjo includes Hannah Cummings on violin, Alfie Gldley on guitar (plus more), Beccy Hurst on whistle and concertina and John OMahony on harmonica and assorted other instruments.
Fisherman’s Friends churn out around 17 plus songs across the production and became the first traditional folk act to land a UK top ten album and play on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury. From the book by Amanda Whittington and the screenplay by Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard, Piers Ashworth we get a glimpse into the simple life they lead with community and family at the heart of everything they do.
By the end of the show, everyone in the theatre was on their feet dancing. Treat yourself to a night at the theatre for a guaranteed good time!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £25.00
Fisherman’s Friends is on at Theatre Royal, Nottingham until Saturday 4 February 2023.
For more information or to book tickets visit
or call the box office on 0115 989 5555
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND