The Last Ship, an original musical with lyrics and music by Sting, docks in the Theatre Royal this week as a personal, passionate and political tribute to his childhood growing up in the heart of a shipbuilding community in Newcastle, floundering under the turmoil of the 1980s.
The show opened in America – in Chicago, and later in New York on Broadway – before it was reworked to begin a UK theatre tour. The story follows Gideon Fletcher, a young boy who runs off to the merchant navy to escape a life following in his father’s footsteps working in the shipyards. He sets off to find new adventures at sea, leaving behind Meg – his broken-hearted first love, who, unbeknownst to him, is expecting his child.
Gideon returns to his home town 17 years later to try and win back the heart of his childhood sweetheart and settle back into a new life on shore. However all is not as it seems.
It’s the 1980s and the shipyard where many have dedicated their life to hard graft and been part of a family of generations working on the docks is in danger of closure as the Thatcher government refuses to sanction a bailout, leaving the community to take matters into their own hands.
With the increasing pressures of privatisation and cuts in government spending, the men and women of the docks unite to make a stand with one final act of great defiance – they will finish their final ship (fittingly named Utopia) and launch her to sea before the shipyard is destined to closure, no matter what the consequences.
The political drive throughout this production leaves us in no doubt of the production’s overall stance on the devastation caused to Tyneside and other industrial towns as a result of the polcies of the Thatcher government – even featuring a caricature of Maggie herself, portrayed as a government minister sent to deliver bad news to the shipyard, right down to her blue suit and tight permed curls.
The tensions in the story leads to many heartwarming, comedic moments throughout the show from the stereotypical working class characters, as well as uplifting and inspiring speeches which will resonate with those who remember the period, clear in the supportive cheers and shouts from the audience on the night. The love story peppered throughout from the characters of Gideon and Meg gives The Last Ship a softer edge.
One of the real strengths of this show is the stand out performances from a first class cast including Richard Fleeshman, Joe McGann, Charlie Hardwick and Frances McNamee who give excellent dramatic performances which really bring their characters to life on stage. McNamee gives a stellar performance of a strong, independent single mother as Meg with her sharp tongue and quick witted humour which sees her put Gideon in his place with her hilarious performance of “If you ever see me talking to a sailor”.
However there is also the emotional and vulnerable side of Meg who had to work hard for acceptance in the community as a young teenage mother and who never really got over being abandoned by her first love. Fleeshman takes on the role of Gideon and his husky tones (similar to the voice of Sting himself) as the tortured soul who regrets his decision to leave and is desperate to make amends with his true love. There are plenty of comedy moments and great one-liners which keep the story moving along and provides contrast to the more serious moments.
Sting has bucked the recent trend of musical acts writing shows purely to showcase their greatest hits. Instead there is an original musical score featuring inspiring choral work with up-beat tunes performed by a five-piece band.
The style of music ranges from Irish folk inspirations to sounds of flamenco all driven along by the foot-stamping beats to mimic the heartbeat of the hard-working shipyard. 59 Productions provide the staging with black and white projections, moving images and strong set pieces adding to this versatile and modern showcase.
Sting’s dream was for this production to be a “thank you” to the city he felt that he abandoned and judging from the audience leaping to their feet with rapturous cheers and applause before the final bow, I think it is safe to say this was a well received sentiment. Get your tickets before The Last Ship sets sail.
Runs until 23 June at the Theatre Royal.