On Saturday 2nd May 2026 we headed over to The Lowry for the world premiere of Bank of Dave: The Musical, and Salford really did feel like it had dressed up for the occasion.
The buzz in the Lyric Theatre before the show even started was brilliant – you could feel everyone was a bit giddy about seeing a brand new northern musical on its very first night.
To top it off, the real Dave Fishwick was actually there, watching his own story unfold on stage. Lance was in his absolute element from the moment we walked in, and he ended up loving every minute. I was a little more on the fence in places, which meant we had a really good debrief on the way home about community, banks and how this wild “true‑ish” story works as a musical.
A proper northern underdog story
At its heart, Bank of Dave is a proper underdog tale. It follows Burnley‑born self‑made millionaire Dave Fishwick as he decides he’s had enough of the big banks saying no and fights to set up his own community‑focused bank, putting the profits back into local people and small businesses. It’s all about the power of community, standing up for the little guy and proving you don’t need to be part of the London elite to make a difference.
When the show leans into that – northern grit, real people, and one man refusing to take no for an answer – it’s genuinely uplifting and very feel‑good. Those are the moments where you really feel the audience leaning in and rooting for Dave and Burnley.
The “true‑ish” twist
The show is very open about the fact it’s using artistic licence and calls itself the “true‑ish” story of Dave Fishwick. I completely get why they’ve done that – it gives them room for big, bold scenes, some daft fun and plenty of laugh‑out‑loud moments. It’s not trying to be a dry documentary; it wants to be a big, crowd‑pleasing night out.
Personally though, I’d have liked it to stay a little closer to the real story. The way that “true‑ish” angle plays out means there’s a final reveal that adds an extra twist to Dave’s journey which, for me, didn’t really feel needed but I think that this is based on the Netflix movie which had the same ending and I havent seen Instead of giving me an extra emotional punch, it left me thinking, “Hmm… what did that actually add?” and pulled the focus slightly away from the real‑life achievements that are already powerful enough on their own.
High‑energy, brilliantly performed and immense fun. One thing you can’t accuse Bank of Dave of being is dull, there’s always something happening, people dashing about, big musical numbers, lots of movement and plenty of humour. Even in the moments where I was thinking, “Whats that about?” the energy on stage kept me watching.
The staging is fairly simple but really effective – no huge gimmicks, It suits the show, because it lets the story, music and performances do the heavy lifting rather than drowning it all in spectacle.
There were a few points where I felt the story lost its thread a bit, but whenever it swung back round to Dave, Burnley and the community, it got me back on side. It’s that mix of chaos and heart that gives the night its particular charm.
Who’s playing who
The cast is led by Sam Lupton as Dave Fishwick, and he gives Dave loads of warmth, humour and that stubborn northern determination you’d expect – he’s really easy to root for and carries the show with real charm. You might recognise him from Wicked in the West End, or from the UK tours of Only Fools and Horses The Musical
Hayley Tamaddon plays Nicky, bringing spark and heart; many will know her from her soap days as Del Dingle in Emmerdale and Andrea in Coronation . Lucca Chadwick‑Patel, fresh from MAMMA MIA! in the West End, is a lovely fit as Hugh, the posh lawyer with more depth than he first lets on. One of the nicest things about the show is the genuine enthusiasm this cast show. They feel like a really tight company, driving the whole thing forward with big vocals, sharp timing and loads of heart. You can tell they’re behind the story they’re telling and the performances never dipped. They were fully committed from start to finish, and you could feel that in the way the audience responded. That well‑deserved standing ovation at the end didn’t come out of nowhere; it was a genuine “we’ve had a good night” reaction from the room.
A special little moment with Dave himself
Because it was opening night, there were a few extra special touches. Before the show even started, Lance actually met Dave Fishwick, which completely made his evening – he was buzzing, and of course we’ve now got the photo to prove it.
Having that moment with Dave and then sitting down to watch his story play out on stage made the whole thing feel more personal.
After the curtain call, Dave came onto the stage to say a few words, and you could see how overwhelmed he was seeing the “story of his life” turned into a musical. In a really sweet touch, he brought his wife up on stage with him. It stopped it feeling like just another big theatre press night and turned it into a celebration of a life, a marriage and a community. That’s the bit that stuck with me the most on the drive home.
So, would I recommend it?
In our house, we came out split – Lance loved it, no question. I enjoyed it, but with a few reservations. I loved the energy, the cast, the underdog story and the hopeful message, but the “true‑ish” approach and that final twist at the end didn’t quite land for me. The storytelling got a bit bewildering for my taste, even though the performances and staging stayed strong.
That said, Bank of Dave: The Musical is still a warm, hopeful night out with a proud northern voice, and it clearly connected with the audience around us. If you like feel‑good shows with heart, humour and a real local hero at the centre – especially if you enjoyed the film or Dave’s true story – then it’s definitely worth catching while it’s at The Lowry.
Bank of Dave the musical is on at the Lowry until the 16th May then transfers to the Leicester Curve 20-30 May
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