Pond Life

Rumours of a monster carp inspire an unlikely fishing expedition in an ex-mining village, in this first feature from acclaimed theatre director Bill Buckhurst, with a fantastic original score by Richard Hawley.

It’s summertime 1994, an ex-mining village in South Yorkshire. Trevor (Tom Varey) sits at Decoy Ponds, patiently awaiting the appearance of Nessie, the carp of local legend. Misfit Pogo (Esme Creed-Miles) wanders around town with a cassette recorder, taping broken fragments of the world around her. Lovesick Malcolm (Angus Imrie) is trying to mend his broken heart and best friends Shane (Gianluca Gallucci) and David (Ethan Wilkie) have nothing better to do. When rumours of giant carp sightings begin to swirl about town, this young community, led by Trevor, embark on a fishing expedition they will never forget.

With echoes of Stand by Me and Billy Elliot, breakout performances from a cast of rising stars and an original score by Richard Hawley, director Bill Buckhurst’s adaptation of Richard Cameron’s acclaimed play is a bittersweet coming-of-age story about love, loss and longing for something more.