The Ballad of Shirley Collins

The story

One of the most important English singers of 20th-century traditional song, Shirley Collins and her sister Dolly stood at the epicentre of the folk music revival from the 1950s through to the 1970s. Directors Rob Curry and Tim Plester have created a poetic response to the life and times of this totemic musical figure. Four years in the making, and co-produced by Fifth Column Films and Burning Bridges, The Ballad of Shirley Collins is the fascinating first release from Fire Films – available to you exclusively through the Lush Player. A captivating study of heritage, posterity, and the true ancestral melodies of the people, this heart-warming film revolves around Shirley's tragic loss of her voice and struggle back to the limelight. And ultimately, it suggests that in these turbulent, increasingly untethered times, we may need Shirley Collins and all she represents more than ever.

Cast & crew

Shirley Collins

Shirley CollinsHerself

Hannah ArtertonNarrator

Stewart LeeHimself

Sam Amidon

Sam AmidonHimself

Dr. John Tully

Dr. John TullyHimself

David Tibet

David TibetHimself

Elle Osborne

Elle OsborneHerself

Ian Kearey

Ian KeareyHimself

Ossian Brown

Ossian BrownHimself

Stephen ThrowerHimself