One of the most fun nights I’ve had at the theatre in ages
Bank of Dave: The Musical is one of the most fun nights I’ve had at the theatre in ages, packed with huge musical numbers, sharp northern humour and a genuinely uplifting story that feels incredibly relevant right now.
Bank of Dave arrives with a fair bit of expectation already attached to it. Dave Fishwick’s story has become one of those rare modern British success stories that we can all get behind. After the book, documentary and Netflix adaptation, the leap to the stage could easily have felt unnecessary or overly sentimental. Instead, this production leans fully into its northern roots and ends up being one of the most entertaining new British musicals around at the moment.
Produced by ROYO, Future Artists Entertainment, Curve and The Lowry, the musical takes the real life story of Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick and turns it into a huge crowd pleasing theatre experience without losing the community spirit at the centre of it. Written by Rob Madge and directed by Nickolai Foster, there is a confidence to the whole production that makes it feel far more polished than many brand new musicals do on a first run.
The story follows Dave as he attempts to challenge Britain’s banking system by setting up a community focused bank after seeing local businesses repeatedly turned away by traditional lenders. It sounds heavy on paper, but the production never gets bogged down in financial jargon or political lectures. Instead, it keeps things funny, sharp and surprisingly heartfelt.
What works especially well is how naturally the music fits into the story. So many modern musicals feel like they are desperately forcing songs into scenes that would work better as dialogue. That never really happens here. The numbers feel purposeful and character driven, whether it is a big ensemble piece poking fun at London bankers or something more emotional rooted in Burnley itself. There is a warmth running through the score that suits the material perfectly.
The northern humour lands constantly too. A lot of the biggest laughs come from the culture clash between Burnley and London, but the script never feels lazy or repetitive with it. There is enough self awareness in the writing to stop it becoming cartoonish. It helps that the audience clearly recognises a lot of the frustrations being mocked here. The anger towards banks and corporate greed feels just as relevant now as it did when Dave first made headlines.
Sam Lupton carries the production brilliantly as Dave. The performance avoids turning him into some sort of untouchable folk hero and instead keeps him grounded, warm and believable. There is a genuine sincerity to him that makes the audience root for him almost instantly. Hayley Tamaddon also stands out, alongside a strong ensemble cast who keep the energy high throughout.
Visually, the production has a proper sense of scale. Amy Jane Cook creates a world that feels proudly northern without falling into parody. The staging moves quickly and keeps momentum going even during scene changes, which gives the whole show a really slick pace.
One of the nicest moments comes right at the end when the real Dave Fishwick appears on stage alongside his wife. It could have felt gimmicky, but instead it gives the evening a surprisingly lovely finish. There is something genuinely uplifting about seeing a story so rooted in ordinary people, community and stubborn determination receive this kind of theatrical treatment.
Bank of Dave: The Musical runs until 29 June at The Lowry, Salford. Tickets here.