Camden Fringe 2025: Shirley Knot the Siren at Canal Café Theatre

Shirley Knot the Siren opened at the Canal Café Theatre on Monday evening, kicking off the first night of Camden Fringe with a musical tale about a middle-aged siren who has made her way onto land and onto the stage. The play, which is billed as a “comedy cabaret”, begins under the promising premise of answering the question, “What happens to a siren when she ages?”

It’s an original take on the oft-overdone trope of youthful mermaids as sex symbols, luring sailors to their deaths with their seductive songs. Yet, despite its intriguing promise to explore the fate of an ageing siren, the play’s lack of a clear plot and cohesive storyline leaves audiences ultimately without an answer. While we get intermittent glimpses into the character of Shirley’s life and journey – told as anecdotes in between musical numbers – the play is largely storyless.

While theatregoers should not expect any stoic line of questioning into society’s fear of ageing female bodies or insistence that women (and mermaids) remain always young and pert, they can prepare for Broadway-esque show-tunes, audience sing-alongs and an abundance of fish-y puns.

Debbie Bridge – who plays Shirley in this one-hour, one-woman show – brings a great energy to her performance. Her voice is made for the stage, and she shines brightest in the operatic numbers. Renditions of Broadway hits such as Memories (Cats) and jazz classics such as Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra) are reworked with lyrics that reflect the ocean theme.

Overall, Shirley Knot the Siren is a lighthearted evening out for those looking for entertainment that does not take itself too seriously. While meandering in its storytelling and directionless in its messaging, audiences who know what they’re getting will surely find something fun in this unorthodox show. Broadway fans will enjoy the musical numbers, and fans of the “dad joke” will likely get a chuckle out of the oceanic wordplay. Those who dislike the double entendre and dread audience participation, however, should steer clear.

Madison Sotos
Photo: Courtesy of Debbie Bridge

Shirley Knot the Siren is at Canal Café Theatre from 28^th until 30^th July 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.