Sting Said:
“I’m so excited to be bringing the Last Ship to Salford because I feel that the underlying themes of the play, the importance of work and community, dignity and regional pride will resonate strongly with the people of Salford and Manchester.”
The Last Ship, acclaimed musical by the internationally renowned musician Sting, will tour to The Lowry, Manchester from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th July 2018.
The production, which will star Jimmy Nail, has a TONY-nominated original score and lyrics composed by Sting.
The production, which was initially inspired by Sting’s 1991 album The Soul Cages and his own childhood experiences, tells the story of a community amid the demise of the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, with the closure of the town’s Swan Hunter shipyard.
When Gideon Fletcher returns home after seventeen years at sea, tensions between past and future flare in both his family and his town. The local shipyard, around which Wallsend has always revolved, is closing and no-one knows what will come next, only that a half-built ship towers over the terraces.
This personal, political and passionate new musical from multiple Grammy Award winner Sting, is an epic account of a family, a community and a great act of defiance. With original music and lyrics by Sting, The Last Ship also features a few of his best-loved songs Island of Souls, All This Time and When We Dance.
Painting at Swan Hunter, Wallsend is now on display at The Lowry ahead of the new musical about the very same ship-building community.
Painting, Narcia fitting out on the Tyne 1968. © The Estate of L.S. Lowry. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2017
Show Imagery copyright Pamela Raitha
