Take a sneak peek inside the transformed Hall for Cornwall ahead of reopening night
The newly-regenerated theatre in Truro is reopening its doors for the world premiere of Fisherman's Friends: The Musical
Last updated 13th Oct 2021
After three years and a £26 million transformation, the Hall for Cornwall is ready to reopen its doors.
The newly-regenerated theatre in the heart of Truro is reopening tonight (Wednesday 13th October) for the world premiere of Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical.
The show charts the rise of Port Isaac’s famous sea shanty group and their major record deal signed in 2010.
Since then Fisherman’s Friends have performed for Her Majesty the Queen, played Glastonbury’s iconic Pyramid Stage and entertained hundreds of thousands of fans at home and abroad, winning numerous awards along the way.
The musical has been adapted from the 2019 hit film Fisherman’s Friends, which grossed $11.5m worldwide. It will feature many of the much-loved sea shanties made famous by the group, including including Keep Haulin’, Nelson's Blood, No Hopers Jokers & Rogues, Sweet Maid Of Madeira and many more.
You can watch a snippet from the show below...
Julien Boast, CEO and Creative Director at Hall for Cornwall said: “We’re excited to be welcoming such a talented cast of actors, including home-grown talent from Cornwall, to raise the curtain on this world premiere, the first show in our inaugural season and the first co-production of our in-house production company, Cornwall Playhouse Productions.”
Actor and comedian Edward Rowe, best known as Kernow King, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be in Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical. It has so much heart and joy and I couldn’t think of a more perfect show to open the new Hall for Cornwall”.
About the £26m transformation of the Hall for Cornwall
The three-year-long project has seen Truro’s 175-year-old Grade II* listed former City Hall completely gutted to accommodate a brand new three-tier auditorium called Cornwall Playhouse with an extra 300 seats, taking its capacity to 1,352 and able to attract bigger shows.
As well as the newly-designed auditorium, there is a warmer welcome with more public spaces, bars and cafés on both sides of the building. A brand new front entrance on Boscawen Street leads into an Ope that runs through to Lemon Street, giving behind-the-scenes glimpses of the workings of the auditorium.
A new co-working space called Husa (meaning ‘to create an illusion or dream’ in Cornish), will open later in the year and nurture and support Cornish performance artists and the creative industries, and is a first for a UK regional theatre.
And the transformed building will be the base for Get Creative, Hall for Cornwall’s programme of creative work with schools, families and communities, which is expected to reach over 50,000 young people in the next five years using theatre, dance, music and heritage.
The Hall for Cornwall operates as a charity, with all surpluses invested in working with young people, increasing the impact of Cornish creative industries, and creating co-productions with Cornish and national partners.
The venue aims to attract 300,000 people a year, adding an estimated £35.6 million to Cornwall’s economy in the next five years and creating 165 jobs.
Last week, Hall for Cornwall unveiled is full inaugural Spring entertainment programme, which includes 43 shows between now and the end of April, including hit West End musicals, live music, drama, comedy, adventure and shows for all the family.
Fisherman's Friends: The Musical will run from Wednesday 13th October to Saturday 30th October 2021. You can find more information here.