Fisherman's Friends (2019)

​

Followed by a Q&A session with Dave Johns who played Leadville in the film.

 

This comedy-drama was the feelgood hit of 2019, directed by Chris Foggin from a screenplay by Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard and Piers Ashworth. Sea shanties formed a powerful, repetitive rhythm for sailors hauling cargo and making sail on 19th century ships. The uplifting, motivational spirit of the call and response structure of the songs steadying their breathing and getting them through harsh days of arduous toil. A strong cast, featuring our own Dave Johns, portray a Cornish fishing community’s shanty singers, as, united by love and friendship, they spurn purely commercial motivations and the trappings of fame. Still relevant in the 21st century, Penny and Sheldon perform a sea shanty in a 2009 episode of The Big Bang Theory, while the film Fishermen’s Friends formed part of a resurgence of interest in shanty singing, More recently the shantytok phenomenon of 2020 saw a version of The Wellerman go viral and a positive shanty explosion on social media during the covid epidemic. Screening this film in our wonderful Cullercoats Watch House venue speaks to our maritime heritage, sailing lore and a strong local community history of choral music. Emerging from the isolation of the covid period, the call for members to join a sea shanty crew was met with great enthusiasm. The group welcomes new members (see Cullercoats Watch House facebook page for details) and sing many of the shanties heard in the film.