Parisa Shahmir is presently taking part in the function of Alwyn within the UK and Ireland tour of Fisherman’s Friends the musical after additionally being a part of the present in its UK premiere in Cornwall. Her different credit embody Gerda in The Snow Queen, (The Rose Theatre), Layla in We Live in Cairo (American Repertory Theater), Young Meg in The Last Ship, (Northern Stage, UK & Ireland Tour) and Mamma Mia! (UK Tour, NGM/ Littlestar).
Having not lengthy opened the present, we caught up with Parisa and chatted about all issues Fisherman’s Friends!
Fisherman’s Friends the musical is predicated on a real story and the 2019 hit movie, what was your expertise of the story earlier than auditioning for the present?
I’d really by no means seen the film earlier than auditioning, however my dad and mom had and so they liked it, my dad particularly! I used to be cautious to not inform him concerning the audition till after I’d acquired the job as a result of I didn’t need to get his hopes up. Needless to say, he was thrilled once I acquired the half. He performs the shanties within the automobile on a regular basis, Drunken Sailor is his favorite.
Tell us somewhat bit concerning the present and your character, Alwyn.
When you obtained the audition, what you most concerning the present?I really like engaged on new writing, so Fisherman’s Friends, being a brand new stage manufacturing, was instantly attention-grabbing to me. I additionally LOVE folks music and having a present made up of actor-musicians can also be extremely thrilling and magical. So that, mixed with the fantastically nuanced script I learn upon receiving the audition, it was a no brainer for me actually.
You have been with the present when it did a run in Cornwall final 12 months, how has the present progressed since that run?
It’s an actual luxurious to have the ability to do a growth run of a present earlier than doing an extended tour like we’re on now, as a result of it offers you the chance, as an organization and inventive crew, to strive issues onstage and see what works and what doesn’t. So, coming again to it this time, the present has come on leaps and bounds. There are a few new songs and a few nice rewrites to the script and it positively feels stronger and slicker than ever now.
Our script author Amanda Whittington is a drive to be reckoned with and she or he writes with such depth and understanding. All the characters are extremely nuanced and an actual pleasure to play with and discover on stage.
You’re touring with the present via to Spring subsequent 12 months, are there any venues you’re most trying ahead to?
I’m actually excited to take the present again to Cornwall the place we did our growth run final 12 months. That was a very wonderful expertise and the folks there actually liked and resonated with the songs & the story.
Anywhere by the ocean or open our bodies of water, I’m excited to go to, that’s my pleased place! So Newcastle, Cardiff, Brighton and Cornwall are all up there on the checklist!
I even have household and associates within the North so I’m excited to go to venues similar to Manchester & Glasgow to get to share the present with them.
You’re additionally heading over to Canada with the present and spending the vacation season in Toronto. What are you most trying ahead to with that?
Weekly touring could be a little intense typically, so a 7 week sit down in Toronto shall be pretty. I’ve by no means been to Canada earlier than so I’m actually trying ahead to going. I’m certain a solid journey to Niagara Falls shall be on the playing cards, however I’ve additionally heard that it is going to be -20 levels at greatest so I’m planning to purchase some new thermals and a snowsuit of some description in preparation!
You’re no stranger to touring having been a part of the UK tour of Mamma Mia for 2 years, what can be your high suggestions for touring in a present? Book your digs (lodging) prematurely and make them good! Touring a present will be laborious and tiring at the very best of occasions, and it makes such a distinction to have a snug house to return to after the present each evening.
Something a pal of mine additionally just lately steered to me is to tour with your personal pillow with good neck help – sounds foolish however transferring to completely different digs/beds each week will be tough in your physique and having a pillow that helps you makes the world of distinction once you’ve acquired 8 exhibits per week! Also, don’t be afraid to ask for house once you want it. Touring will be so enjoyable, and there’s at all times tons happening, social occasions, drinks, firm meals and so forth. But once you’re touring with the identical group of individuals for some time in a high-pressure setting, tensions are sure to get excessive and frustrations will come up. Learn to ask for what you want and take time for your self to relaxation, recuperate and decompress – that’s an enormous factor I’ve discovered on this tour thus far and it’s serving me so nicely.
Looking via your CV you’ve been a part of many workshops, with this and the very fact you’re a part of the unique solid of Fisherman’s Friends, what makes you proceed to work on new items?
I really like being part of a brand new artistic course of. There is one thing wonderful once you work on a brand new piece of writing, the place you’re all collaborating within the room collectively. The author, the director, the actors and so forth. It’s an actual group effort and also you get to convey a lot of your self and your artistic concepts to the desk. It’s one thing I believe I’ve actually resonated with since I began writing music myself prior to now couple of years. Originating a job in a brand new musical has been a dream of mine, and for it to be this half on this present is admittedly one thing fairly particular. I’m extremely grateful for the chance.
You’ve solely simply opened the present forward of its UK tour, what has the response been like thus far?
We opened the present in Plymouth and we have been fairly spoiled with our audiences there as, being so near Cornwall the place the play is ready, it was obtained so nicely. However saying that we’ve simply completed our third efficiency in Birmingham as I’m penning this and we’ve had standing ovations each evening (in Plymouth and Birmingham) so we’re feeling actually spoiled. Having solely ever carried out within the South West with this present, we have been somewhat uncertain it might be obtained by locations additional north, but when Birmingham is something to go by, we’re doing alright thus far! It shall be thrilling to proceed to convey the present to new locations and see what the completely different reactions are!
And lastly, in a single sentence, why ought to folks come and see Fisherman’s Friends?
This is the texture good story the world wants proper now – stuffed with coronary heart, soul and shanties, this can be a evening on the theatre you gained’t remorse.