Jo Parsons directs Shantify, the high energy musical sensation returning to the West End for a limited run at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. The show has already captured audiences with its inventive blend of music, humour and theatrical storytelling.
Reimagining pop, rock and musical theatre favourites as rousing sea shanties, Shantify delivers a feel good theatrical experience performed by a talented group of West End performers. It combines rich harmonies with a lively nautical twist.
Shantify runs from 3 June to 14 June at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. Tickets are available here.
You’re directing Shantify at Underbelly Boulevard Soho, what can you tell us about the show?
Shantify is full of heart, humour and positivity. Dare I say, in a world where we need much more of that right now.
The driving force of the show is the music. Imagine your favourite pop, rock and musical theatre songs transformed into foot-stomping sea shanties, performed by six incredibly talented actors who do not take themselves too seriously and are having the most wonderful time on stage.
Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 in the style of a sea shanty – you cannot help but leave the theatre with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.
Shantify reimagines well known songs as sea shanties, what inspired this concept?
Not to turn the clock back five years and bring the pandemic up, but I did spend some time during Covid in Cornwall, where I immersed myself in the world of sea shanties.
I said to my now wife, Nicole, as we drove home on the M4 motorway, “Wouldn’t it be cool to take a musical theatre song and ‘Shantify’ it?” Nicole does not always love my ideas, but this one intrigued her. That was enough for me to contact the brilliant musical minds of Ashley Jacobs and Harry Style.
I suggested we look at a sea shanty take on The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, and soon enough they were right onboard. Ash and Harry are fantastic with harmonies and, with my suggestions of a few ‘heaves’ here and a few ‘hos’ there, we had our first ‘Shantified’ tune.
We went back into lockdown that Christmas, so I reached out to some friends who all recorded and filmed their own musical lines at home in isolation. We pieced that together and popped the video online. The rest is history.
The show has enjoyed successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and in the West End, what do you think audiences connect with most?
Audiences love the musical material we reimagine as sea shanties. I love watching how long it takes for them to realise what song we have given a nautical twist to next.
The opening number is Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. It always gets a great laugh, and from there you can sense the audience relax and allow themselves to be swept away into our imaginations of a world where sea shanties can be Beyoncé, Robbie Williams, Fleetwood Mac and, yes, even Eminem.
There is something for everyone in this show, and you can really feel a connection and energy between the actors and the audience.
I think that is why we are seeing people return to the show who have seen it multiple times in Edinburgh, then came to London, and recently travelled all the way to Cornwall to watch it at the Minack. It is wonderful that we are starting to see a fanbase build and a real love and support for the show.
As both the creator and director of Shantify, how have you shaped the tone and style of the production?
I think it is really important to smile and laugh every day and to try to find the positives in every situation. We are all experiencing a tough world at the moment, and I want people to forget that for a while.
The aim is to transport audiences into a nautical world where rich harmonies and absolute bangers offer a sense of escapism for 90 minutes.
Our choreographer, social media star Christopher Hall, has been fantastic. His movement and storytelling elevate the show with endless wit and charm.
We have a great team, including the amazing Emily Hendy (Co-Producer). The creative team and I all share a very clear vision of what we want the audience to experience and feel, which makes this show a joy to work on.
The show brings together humour, harmony and storytelling, what has been the most rewarding part of directing this piece?
I am very aware that the world can feel like a daunting place. You turn on the TV or scroll on your phone only to be met with negative energy and worrying news.
I want audiences to come to a show that has not cost them the earth and instantly be transported somewhere joyful. A place where they do not have to think too much and, without even realising it, they are smiling, laughing, tapping their feet and maybe even singing along.
If they leave having had a good time, feeling lighter and more positive, then I think we have done our job. That is the most rewarding part of working on this show.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Shantify?
If you want a fun night out with your partner, friends, family or even work colleagues, then Shantify will not disappoint.
Have you ever imagined Bruno Mars or the Spice Girls as sea shanties? Or songs from The Greatest Showman and Six the Musical given a nautical twist?
Most people are hooked, so come down and see what it is all about.
