Setting sail on a heartwarming voyage; FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL THEATRE ROYAL.

Byline: ANDY SMART

IT all started on a secluded beach in Cornwall but led to seven seaside singers writing a new chapter in music history.

Parisa Shahmir

Celebrated DJ Johnnie Walker is credited with discovering the Fisherman's Friends, after hearing them perform their shanties by the harbour at Port Isaac.

He set wheels in motion that eventually led to a record deal, gold albums and Glastonbury.

Two highly successful movies followed and now the compelling story of the Fisherman's Friends has transferred to the stage with this joyous, feelgood musical scripted by Nottingham playwright Amanda Whittington.

Her wellcrafted script laces the tale of the group's rise from sea shore to Pyramid Stage with bags of humorous banter and just enough melancholy for balance.

Director James Grieve creates an authentic fishing port atmosphere with rough edges and simple, centuries-old music, because these aren't boy band pop stars, just a bunch of hard-working men with ties to the sea who happen to have an appealing collection of toetappingly good songs to offer.

And don't they just love to sing.

On their boats, in their local pub, and of a Friday evening on the beach.

Washed-up hitmaker Danny, impressively handled by understudy Dominic Brewer, is down from London for a wedding but when he hears the band he hears chart-topping success. Somehow he has to convince the sceptical Cornishmen he is not some fly-by-night chancer, especially community stalwart Jim, whose gruff, gnarly character is perfectly captured by TV regular James Gaddas.

Through some appealing subplots involving key players like Susan Penhaligon, as everyone's favourite go-for-it granny; Danny's sweet-sounding love interest Parisa Shahmir, and struggling pub couple Dean Buckley and Hazel Askew, he nails a PS1m deal and sends the Fisherman's Friends on the road to global fame.

And underpinning it all is the entire ensemble of wonderful singers with their rousing tunes that had the audience clapping and cheering and having a whale of a time.

CAPTION(S):

Dan Buckley, James Gaddas, Robert Duncan, Jason Langley and Anton Stephans in Fisherman's Friends: The Musical pamela raith

Parisa Shahmir