REVIEW: Fisherman’s Friends - The Musical

Supreme ensemble playing from the cast of Fishermen’s Friends - The Musical…

In 2010 they were signed by Universal Music. In 2019 their story was made into a film. The sequel came quickly afterwards and so it was only a matter of time before a stage show was mounted.

Fisherman’s Friends, whilst not immediately obvious fodder for a piece of musical theatre, based on the performance I saw at Bristol Hippodrome recently, I would say it was a perfect match.

Famous for their sea shanties, the story of Cornwall’s Fisherman’s Friends, is a true one. Formed in 1995 and discovered by a BBC music executive while holidaying in the area in the mid noughties – they were signed to Universal Music for £1million pounds and you could say the rest was history.

And what a history it is, all played out supremely by an enormous cast of performers in Fisherman’s Friends - The Musical at Bristol Hippodrome. The script is a witty one and the songs come thick and fast with nearly 20 sea shanties in the first half alone.

The story is driven by the unlikely but burgeoning romance between record producer Danny and Alwyn, the female lead who runs the local pub and a barmaid who can deliver a shanty or two of her own. Indeed, despite the huge sound of the males who make up the folk group, it’s Parisa Shahmir who delivers the performance of the night with a blend of at times barnstorming, at times haunting, vocals.

The cast play the musical accompaniment in character as residents of Port Isaac, where the story is set, and are clearly talented as they work hard to keep the energy of this piece zipping along. It really needs this energy, particularly in the second act, such is the repetition of the sea shanty sound.

The group come into their own when they sing a cappella, with gorgeous harmonies and the foot stomping is kept to a minimum. If there is one gripe, and one which is all so common in theatre these days… it’s too long. It felt a bit indulgent at the end when they come back on to sing three more sea shanties at the curtain call. That said, the audience were on their feet screaming for more, and that’s what counts.

Tickets all performances at Bristol Hippodrome are available here.