Cromer fishing family takes centre stage in new James McDermott play

Shanty is the story of a Cromer crab fisherman and his two daughters, all grieving after the sudden death of their wife and mum.

Their rebuilding journey, laced with music and humour born out of adversity, is explored by up-and-coming playwright and poet James McDermott, who lives near Holt.

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Mr McDermott, who also teaches at the UEA and writes scripts for EastEnders, said: “It is a drama drawing its comedy from the family’s attempts to form a band, the mess of grieving and being a young person clumsily trying to find a new way forward.

James McDermott gets into Shanty mode by some fishing boats. (Image: Richard Batson / SLT)

“I wrote Shanty during lockdown under the writing scheme by the Mercury Theatre in Colchester – but they could not develop the play, so I offered it to the Little Theatre which is the perfect place to launch it. 

“It’s also about trying to establish an East Anglian identity and voice. The North and London have theirs, but it’s harder to find something as distinctive for this area, capturing the feel of living on the coast, the slower pace of life, and self-deprecating humour.”

In the play, dad, Brendan, is struggling with his fishing business and faces having to sell his crab boat to a rival and work on the fish counter in Morrisons.

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Eldest daughter Marina has dropped out of university after realising her emerging science career was her mother’s dream rather than hers.

Youngest daughter Shanty has lost her way, turns to music to find her voice – and persuades the rest of the family to form a band, with a first gig looming at Cromer Carnival.

West End director Marcus Romer and actor Meg Artherton are among the others working on the project.

Shanty runs from August 8-12.