The Ballad of Wallis Island
Show Date: January 8, 2026 7:30 pm
Estranged folk band duo Herb McGwyer and Nell Mortimer are unexpectedly thrown back together for a gig. Unbeknownst to them, the audience consists of just one man: Charles Heath, a wealthy, eccentric, and delightfully quirky recluse who has used his considerable resources to orchestrate a private reunion of his favourite musicians.
He lives alone in a large old house on a remote British island. The musical duo of Nell and Herb—who share a romantic and professional past—haven’t seen each other in years. They’ve gone in different directions with their lives, but this peculiar event forces them to confront old memories, unresolved regrets, and long-dormant feelings.
Tim Key is wonderful as the socially awkward and lonely Charles Heath, whose years of solitude have given rise to a hilariously rambling case of verbal diarrhoea. He brings humour and unexpected warmth to a character who could so easily have been just a caricature.
Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan as Herb and Nell share a subtle, lived-in chemistry, making their moments of tension and tenderness feel all the more authentic. As they reminisce and reconnect, the film gently unravels the emotional threads of their shared past.
Directed by James Griffiths, The Ballad of Wallis Island is a British comedy-drama adapted from the 2007 short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island. The screenplay is co-written by Tom Basden and Tim Key.
This is a poignantly funny comedy, set against the beautiful, windswept landscape of the island. It features some lovely original folk songs written by Basden, and performed by Basden and Carey Mulligan, adding emotional resonance and charm to the story.
90 tickets available
-
x £5.00
-
x £3.50
- (16 or under)
-
x £2.50
Your tickets have been added to your basket!
View basket