NS Archive 2018: The Last Ship
12 March – 7 April 2018
“It’s a strange kind of beauty, it’s cold and austere,
And whatever it was that you’ve done to be here,
It’s the sum of your hopes, your despairs and your fears when the Last Ship sails’
Sting’s personal, political and passionate musical comes home to Newcastle, in an epic tale of community, hope and a great act of collective defiance.
The Last Ship tells the story of a ship-building town and its people. Gideon Fletcher, a sailor, returns home from half-a-lifetime at sea to discover the ship-building life he left behind in chaos. The yard is closing and no one knows what will come next. With the engine fired and pistons in motion, picket lines are drawn as foreman Jackie White and his wife Peggy fight to hold their community together in the face of the gathering storm.
TOUR
The Last Ship toured across the UK and Ireland, as well as internationally.
Liverpool Playhouse, The New Alexandra Birmingham, Royal & Derngate Northampton, Leeds Grand Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, Wales Millenium Centre Cardiff, Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Theatre Royal Glasgow, York Theatre Royal, The Lowry Salford, Princess of Wales Toronto.
Credits
Creative Team
Sting – Music & Lyrics
Lorne Campbell – Director and Book Writer
Rob Mathes – Orchestrator
Richard John – Musical Director
59 Productions – Designer
Molly Einchcomb – Costume Designer
Lucy Hind – Movement Director
Matt Daw – Lighting Designer
Sebastian Frost – Sound Designer
Selma Dimitrijevic – Dramaturg
Jake Smith – Associate Director
Sam Sommerfield – Associate Director
Bethan Clark of RC Annie LTD – Fight Director
Helen Ashton – Voice
Jenkins Mcshane Casting CDG – Casting
Producers
Karl Sydow – Producer
Kathryn Schenker – Producer
Northern Stage
Cast
Michael Blair – Yard Worker
Joe Caffrey – Billy Thompson
Matt Corner – Young Gideon & Yard Worker
Richard Fleeshiman – Gideon Fletcher
Marvin Ford – Ferryman & Yard Worker
Orla Gormley – Cathleed & Yark Worker
Annie Grace – Mrs Dees
Charlie Hardwick – Peggy White
Sean Kearns – Freddy Newland & Old Joe
Joe McGann – Jackie White
Frances McNamee – Meg Dawson
Katie Moore – Ellen Dawson
Charlie Richmond – Adrian Sanderson
Parisa Shahmir – Young Meg
Kevin Wathen – Davey Harrison
Penelope Woodman – Baroness Tyneside
The Last Ship Band
Michael McAuley – Melodeon
Carol Orr – Guitar
Don Richardson – Bass
Eryl Roberts – Percussion
Sally Simpson – Violin
Production Team
Russ Spencer – Company Manager
Christian Bawtree – Technical Stage Manager
Martin Hinkins – Deputy Stage Manager
Rose Burston – Assistant Stage Manager
Pete Kramer – Production Manager
Verity Sadler – Costume Supervisor
Production Photos
by Pamela Raith
Reviews
★★★★★ “A tour de force” – The Stage
★★★★★ “an exceptional production” – North East Theatre Guide
★★★★ “Truly amazing” – Daily Telegraph
★★★★ “rousing anthems and purposeful politics” – The Guardian
★★★★ “a triumphant homecoming” – What’s On Stage
Programme
View the Programme for The Last Ship here.