Lead by a brilliant ensemble cast including Richard Fleeshman, Charlie Hardwick, Joe McGannand Frances McNamee, this show features a moving and heartfelt story of love, life and hope. This personal musical inspired by Sting’s own childhood experiences, shows the collective defiance of a community facing the demise of the shipbuilding industry alongside a poignant and moving romantic tale of childhood sweethearts and the adults they grew up to become. Read more …
Featuring a awe-inspiring and impressive set by Olivier-nominated 59 Productions, The Last Ship is the UK and Ireland premiere of Sting’s heartfelt and empowering new musical.
For all its occasional po-facedness, there is no denying the show’s passion and resonance.
An uncritical celebration of the power of the working-class, its own dialectic of toughness and emotionalism lacks a nuanced critique of the nature of the Tory attack on the area's industrial base, and its regionalism disguises the meandering of the second act.
With rousing anthems and purposeful politics, this tale of Thatcher-era shipbuilders launches anew in home waters.
Director Campbell's cast impresses vocally (the chorus numbers pack a tremendous punch) and, if acting is more uneven, the principals establish character strongly, without over-statement.
A conventional stage musical, replete with (sometimes saccharine) sentiment, this version of The Last Ship is beautifully constructed.
This story is one of labour, life, and love, and the intersection when all three intertwine.
A passionate call to arms that offers solidarity and hope in the face of all that is currently wrong with the world.
In the end, however, it still seems to be more about Sting working out his ambivalent attitude to his upbringing than anything else. This means that – for all its righteous fury – it remains oddly uninvolving, and seems destined to remain more of a curiosity than anything else.
If the leading performances are excellent, though, in the end it’s the music, the spectacle and the magnificent ensemble work that carries this show.
The Last Ship is a powerful and emotive musical that deserves to have a long life beyond this debut UK tour.
The result is a celebration of the collective strength of a community from a time that it was under threat; a chorale from the past with a sermon for the future.
This is a work that will resonate with many, however, some judicious editing would have made for an even more powerful message hitting home.
The Last Ship is a good musical full of sentiment, working class values and political comment. It’s a must see show.
Sting--Setting Sail on The Last Ship
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday June 12, 2018, until Saturday June 16, 2018. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival
Theatre Royal, Glasgow from Monday June 18, 2018, until Saturday June 23, 2018. More info: www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyalglasgow/
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