The Last Ship Musical: Review

The Last Ship: A play by the People FOR the People

Last night I had the immense pleasure of going to see The Last Ship at Northern Stage Theatre. Not only have I seen this on TV. I’ve seen it being talked about on social media, in the streets and by all of Twitter too!

As a new production, I wasn’t too sure on what to expect, but when I read a few reviews I assumed it but be a massive production and therefore couldn’t be very “Geordie”. I was sooooo wrong.

When we arrive and walked into the theatre immediately I noticed the stage, you cannot miss the sheer size of it. As you know if you read my blog regularly, I love theatre and visit regularly and I can say this staging was amazing! It was lovely to see a casual, Geordie welcome by the actors on the stage waiting for us to sit and chatting to us and amongst themselves. It put a real relaxed feeling to it, I suppose what we do when people visit our city. make them feel welcomed!

“We BUILD Ships!!!!” : The Last Ship

The musical is based in Newcastle, Wallsend. The Last Ship tells the story of Mr and Mrs White with the comrades of the Shipyard fighting for what is theirs through the tough times of decline. There’s also an added love story of those fighting to save the future of their town and a place for their children to come home to and be proud.

The story shows the North East in the hard and good times and exactly what type of people we are!

The musical is inspired on some of Sting’s own personal experiences as a child growing up in Wallsend. As well as the compelling hard times of the Shipyards all over the UK.

Sting has worked 3 years in the making to create the music and Lyrics behind the show. Then the wonderful Lorne Campbell as the director as put piece by piece to create a beautiful play.

Photo Credit

The Cast

There was not one single person who didn’t make the show what it was. From the onset was the brilliant Matt Corner and Parisa Shahmir who played young Meg and Gideon and set the love story on it’s way.

To the Backbone of the storyline and heading the North East cast was the amazing Charlie Hardwick and Joe McGann plying Mr and Mrs White. You would have seen them on your screens for year but on stage their performances were more powerful! They were a duo not to be messed with and you instantly fell in love with them. I felt as thought they were my mum and dad, grandma and grandpa and so on. There was no one else as perfect as these two to showcase the pride of their hometown as much as these two!

Moving on the gorgeous Richard Fleesham and Frances McNamee as adult Gideon and Meg. After seeing Richard grow up on screen I was shocked to hear his singing voice. He literally sounded like Sting and brought great energy to the stage. And Frances blew me away. She was born to be on stage and her singing voice was amazing. The group comes together throughout the play and each and every time I could hear through the crowd. Reaching those notes no one else could! Then there was her solo’s, she made me laugh, cry and then some.

Michael Blair as the yard worker was brilliant! With the passion literally showing bright red in his face. He played the perfect union member and something that all of the UK can resent with!

A North East Legend

Another favourite for me was the most loved man on stage in the North East Charlie Richmond! Never fails to make me laugh and even looked a bit like someone from my family back in the 80’s! He was so good in character that I didn’t even realise it was him until after! Charlie always does a great job any role he plays and it’s nice to see him in a role other than panto, he deserves this!

A play like no other

Every person in the show deserves to b talked about but as above, the whole team made it! I laughed, I cried and went straight home to find the songs on Spotify. Just Can’t get them out of my head! Well done to Sting and he crew for creating this and if it doesn’t get 5 stars across then I’ll eat my hat!