A young fisherman, in the ice-cold waters of the North Sea, finds that his boat is sinking as night comes on. The crew perish, and we watch as his survival begins to be eroded like the tide. This terrifying prospect is given a haunting, elegiac quality in Eastern Angles’s new touring production, beautifully atmospheric and performed on an astonishing, versatile and highly effective set by Amy Watts. On it performs Jonathan Savage as the Fisherman, powerfully masculine as he hangs from the set, powerfully venerable as he twists his body to try and swim to shore.
Dedicated to those lost at sea, Savage brings us to the risks and the reality of fishing, skilfully evoking the sight, sounds and warmth of his family, the potential he always leaves behind as he sets out to sea, and the loneliness of his situation. It’s not a solo performance, however, as the synergy between lighting and sound, (excellent work from composer Sam Glossop), and the physical work by movement director James Berkley is mesmerising. If I have a mild reservation, it’s that the story is a little thin to fill it’s running time, and a sequence of the fisherman singing along to Led Zepplin goes on for too long.
However, this is more than made up by the textual quality of the script, mournful yet shot through with moments of hope, and director Jake Smith keeps a strong, confident hand on the tiller. Then, at the conclusion, something absolutely beautiful happens as regional choirs sing the fisherman home. It was unexpected, tender and powerful, and embraces the community spirit Eastern Angles built it’s reputation on.
Mercury Theatre, Colchester and on tour. The Deep | Eastern Angles
Written by Jón Atli Jónasson
Directed by Jake Smith.
Cast: Jonathan Savage.
Running time: 70 minutes with no interval.