This nautical musical adventure starring a crew of West End wonder boys was the talk of Fringe 2025. Join us as we turn show tunes, rock classics and pop bangers into superb sea shanties and weave them into a joyous story. You will not want to miss the rib-tickling brilliance of the songs that we Shantify – the harmonies these boys produce will knock your socks off! Last year’s show sold out and audiences raved about the show, so don’t miss out on the hottest, funnest, shanty-est show at the Fringe!
Review by Richard Lambert
Shantify is a fun family musical that packs a lot into its hour. It’s full of well-known songs, but they’ve been given new tunes to fit the sea shanty style, and it works really well.
The set is simple, with a few barrels, crab cages and planks that are turned into benches. It doesn’t need much more than that, and the cast make good use of the space, including bringing members of the audience into the action.
The lighting is one of the strongest parts of the production. Being in the round, it can be tricky to light everyone properly and not blind the audience, but the faces are well lit, which is especially important when you have such a strong singing cast. The colour palette choices work well and the lighting cues are nicely timed with the show.
The sound is also really well balanced. The backing tracks, guitar and live vocals all work together without one drowning out the other. I also liked that the reverb used for the songs is turned off for the dialogue, so the speech stays clear. It’s unnoticeable when it’s done well, as it is here, and horrible when not which happens a lot elsewhere on the fringe.
There’s plenty of comedy throughout, and the cast have good timing. The blocking works well, especially when they move in and out of the audience. There’s also a section where some of the audience get brought onto the stage, which is very funny.
The cast are really well chosen. The singing is excellent, with strong vocalists across the board, and the choreography is good and performed well. They clearly know how to work an audience and keep everyone involved.
The pace is spot on too. The hour just flies by, which is always a good sign.
Shantify is a brilliant Fringe show. It’s well above what you might normally expect from a one-hour Fringe production and is a great choice if you want something wholesome and fun that the whole family can enjoy.
Cast:
Michael Riseley
Jack Whittle
Alfie French
Cal T. King
Ollie Wray
Joe Bishop
Creatives:
Jo Parsons – Director
Emily Wood – Producer
Harry Style – Musical Director & Arranger
Ashley Jacobs – Musical Director & Arranger
Chris Hall – Choreographer
Richard Williamson – Lighting Designer