The Freshwater Five at Stephen Joseph Theatre
Dates: 01/05/2026
📍 Theatre: Stephen Joseph Theatre
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Westborough, Scarborough YO11 1JW
Scarborough,
Tickets: £15
Innocent fishermen or international drug smugglers?
In 2011, five fishermen on the Isle of Wight (Jamie Green, Jon Beere, Daniel Payne, Scott Birtwistle and Zoran Dresic) were sentenced to a total of 104 years for conspiracy to import £53m worth of cocaine. They have always professed their innocence in a tale that has long divided the Isle of Wight community.
This powerful play seeks to present the case and its events on their merits, exploring the state of our coastal communities. Inspired by the wildly popular Guardian Today in Focus podcast, The Freshwater Five incorporates spectacular storytelling, verbatim accounts, inventive stagecraft, poetry and song, delving into historical and contemporary smuggling, deteriorating coastal communities, immigration and folklore.
Award-winning Isle of Wight company Deadman’s debut, fresh from sell-out tours, is now arriving on a national 2026 tour. Led by IOWers artistic director Samuel Bossman, playwright Liam Patrick Harrison’s full-length debut is a detailed and rich theatrical investigation into the men’s tragic downfall and coastal communities.
News About The Freshwater Five at Stephen Joseph Theatre
THE FRESHWATER FIVE Will Come to Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre in May
April 02, 2026 THE FRESHWATER FIVE, a debut play about Isle of Wight fishermen convicted of drug smuggling who maintain their innocence, comes to Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre on 1 May as part of a 2026 national tour.
New Visiting Shows For 2027 Revealed at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre
October 29, 2025 Seven more new visiting shows have been announced for 2026 by Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre. Learn more about the lineup which includes Meet Fred, Dial 1 for UK, and more.About the Theatre
Stephen Joseph Theatre Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
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What shows have played recently at Stephen Joseph Theatre ?
Cinderella (12/2/22-12/31/22)
Constellations (10/28/22-11/12/22)
Family Album (9/2/22-10/1/22)
Brief Encounter (7/22/22-8/22/22)
Five Children & It (5/31/22-5/31/22)
Pete Firman - Bag Of Tricks (5/27/22-5/27/22)
The Snow Queen (12/4/20-12/31/20)
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G4 Christmas 2026 - Christchurch Priory Christchurch Priory (11/07-11/07) |
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James McMurtry + BettySoo at Union Chapel - London Union Chapel (10/13-10/13) |
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Disney''s Frozen the Musical Marriott Theater - Lincolnshire IL (11/04-1/03) |
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Paul Merton & Suki Webster''s Improv Show Harrogate Theatre (10/02-10/02) |
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G4 Christmas 2026 - Edinburgh Usher Hall The Usher Hall (12/28-12/28) |
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Friday Comedy Club London | Covent Garden, July 2026 Comedy Carnival Covent Garden (7/24-7/24) |
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Title Goes Here Gazelle Theatre (8/17-8/30) PHOTOS |
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First Five: Candice Carty-Williams Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall (7/15-7/15) |
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The Go-Between St George’s Theatre (8/20-8/20) |