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A stained glass window image of a ship with an illustrated image of several men in flat caps. Text reads

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 

Audience Reactions

The Last Ship Press Night

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.