From the multi award-winning team behind the smash-hit Brixton Calling comes The Jolly Fisherman, a powerful new drama premiering at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Written by John Dinneen and directed by Layla Madanat, this compelling story of friendship and identity unfolds against the shifting social landscape of East London.
At its heart, The Jolly Fisherman follows boyhood friends Alan and Amir, played by Alex Hill and Jonny Khan. The story begins with thirteen-year-old Alan introducing his world, centred around a red-brick pub just north of Barking. His life is steady and familiar, until the arrival of Amir, a second-generation British-Pakistani teenager who soon becomes an unlikely but inseparable friend.
As the boys grow, their bond deepens, but so too do the pressures around them. What begins as a story of youthful connection gradually evolves into a more complex exploration of belonging, community and the forces that shape identity. Set against a backdrop of social change and political tension, the play examines how friendships can endure, and sometimes fracture, when the world around them begins to shift.
Inspired by true events, the production paints a vivid portrait of modern Britain, exploring the “vanishing middle ground” between opposing viewpoints. It offers an unflinching yet compassionate look at national identity and the realities faced by young people growing up in communities undergoing change.
Writer John Dinneen says, “As the Right prepares for its biggest march in history and the Left begins to march in the other direction, I wanted to tell a story from the vanishing middle ground. A story that’s unflinching, honest and compassionate. The Jolly Fisherman is the story of two boys loving each other’s company, but it’s also a political story of our shape-shifting national identity.”
He continues, “It’s ultimately a story about two teenagers in East London who are asking the same questions about community and identity as people in cities and towns up and down the country right now.”
The production also marks the Fringe debut of Jonny Khan, alongside Alex Hill, whose previous work includes the acclaimed Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England. Together, they bring to life a deeply human story that resonates far beyond its specific setting.
Blending intimate storytelling with wider social commentary, The Jolly Fisherman promises to be a poignant and timely addition to this year’s programme, offering audiences a heartfelt exploration of friendship, identity and the places we call home.
The Jolly Fisherman runs at Underbelly George Square from 5 – 31 August at 12:45. Tickets are on sale here
