Manchester Collective & Sean Shibe: Sea Shanties
All aboard as we chart an unlikely course through the world of sea shanties, encountering classical, folk and contemporary works along the way.
A deep dive into musical sea lore. Just you and your crew alone, against the unforgiving force of the open sea.
If you want to survive, you must band together and get to work, fast. And there’s no quicker way of building camaraderie than through song. The rhythm is what binds you.
That’s where sea shanties come in. A centuries-old folk tradition at the heart of maritime culture.
Join two of our groundbreaking Resident Artists on this quest: radical ensemble Manchester Collective with Sean Shibe, a master of the guitar in its various guises across the ages, from acoustic to electric.
There’s no one better to join the dots between the sea shanty’s rich history and its TikTok success than Ben Nobuto.
The British/Japanese composer brings a whirlwind of avant-garde, contemporary classical and video game sounds, playfully reflecting our fragmented lives.
Ben Nobuto’s new work is co-commissioned by Manchester Collective and the Southbank Centre
Manchester Collective is a Southbank Centre Resident Artist for Classical Music: Spring/Summer 2026.
Performers
Manchester Collective string quartet, percussion, electronics
Sean Shibe lute, guitar, electric guitar
Repertoire
Dowland: Lachrimae antiquae; Captain Digorie Piper his galliard; Can she excuse my wrongs
Purcell: Come away, fellow sailors; The sailors dance from Dido and Aeneas; Full fathom five from The Tempest arr. Thomas Adès
Traditional: Sea shanties arr. Donald Grant for ensemble
The Unthanks: Big steamers
Ben Nobuto: New work (World premiere)
Need to know
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.