‘A state-of-the-nation dissection of belonging and friendship’
The Jolly Fisherman was inspired by a BBC news article about a disused Barking pub being converted into a mosque, along with the state of the comment section beneath it. Thirteen-year-old Alan (Alex Hill) has grown up in the boozer where his father is a regular: he knows all the nicknames, and even has one of his own. It’s like a second home to him. He meets Amir (Jonny Khan) on the school bus and they become fast friends. Amir starts going to the pub to play darts with Alan, sneaking off to the backroom to pray to Allah. His parents won’t step foot in the pub, and wish he wouldn’t either. As the boys get older, and the pub shuts down, it becomes harder for two members of such different worlds to stay close. Particularly when the former regulars decide Amir must have something to do with the mosque conversion; after all, who told “them” it was a good place to pray?
Fundamentally, though, John Dineen’s script is about belonging. Alan belongs in the pub, saving seats for the regulars before graduating to the status of regular himself. Amir is out of place, catching hostile glances from across the bar and being pressured into buying a pint. When Alan’s curiosity about Amir takes them to a mosque, we see a very different sense of belonging. Now it’s Alan who is out of place. The boys also draw that sense of belonging from their friendship. When “The Jolly” is closed down, Alan doesn’t just lose a pub but somewhere he felt safe and loved. Of course that would lead to anger.
Alan narrates many of the play’s early scenes, with Hill’s performance relatable, funny and authentic. Equally adept at celebrating a 180 in darts as he is at gulping back tears during a confrontation. As Amir grows in confidence he assumes more of the narration, and Khan is just as deft. The Jolly Fisherman’s excellent casting is the first thing that stands out – Hill’s Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England has echoes of Alan in its desperate need for camaraderie; Khan’s recent turn in The Shitheads was just as compelling.
The Jolly Fisherman is a stripped-back but stylish production performed in a glorified shipping container. A dartboard occupies centre stage, with the narrative’s present year scratched out on chalkboards on either side. Scene transitions are marked by dissonant white noise which resolves into worshipful drumming, foreshadowing the inevitable conflict to come – which side will Alan choose? This minimalism allows The Jolly Fisherman’s strongest elements – killer acting and authentic dialogue – to shine.
Rarely has there been a more obvious candidate for transplant to the National Theatre. The Jolly Fisherman captures the very best and very worst of modern Britain – eulogising the great British pub, but also the desperate feeling that you no longer belong. Claustrophobic staging, evocative acting, and an authentic-feeling script unite for a powerful piece of theatre.
Show Listing:https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-jolly-fisherman
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Venue: Buttercup, Underbelly George Square
Dates: Aug 5th–31st (excl. 17th)
Time: 12:45 (60 mins)
Ticket prices: £10–£14.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Suitable for 14+