‘A full-house standing ovation’ as Come From Away lands at the Lowry

The theatre performance of Come From Away at the Lowry theatre was a heartwarming tale of a community in a crisis. 

The Oliver Award winning musical centred around 9/11, I was intrigued. However, after watching it I realised that it is not so much about the tragic events that occurred in New York on September 11th.

But rather followed the remarkable acts of humanity and generosity that followed in a remote Canadian town on September 12th.

The show written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and directed by Christopher Ashley, Come From Away tells the untold stories of the people on the other planes.

The flights diverted from America on that fateful day. Inspired by thousands of true stories, it is a heartwarming, faith-restoring tale of community and kindness in the worst of times, told by a talented and tireless cast.

The Plot (Without Spoilers!)

When the tragic events of 9/11 forced the U.S. government to close its airspace, 38 planes were rerouted and grounded in Gander, Newfoundland.

In 2001, Gander was a small town with fewer than 10,000 residents, once known as ‘the crossroads of the world’ due to its strategic location for transatlantic refuelling.

Suddenly faced with 7,000 stranded passengers – known to the locals as ‘plane people’ – the Newfoundlands pulled together to house their unexpected guests anywhere they had room.

In a town with only 500 hotel rooms, the locals opened their homes, schools and community centres to accommodate the plane people. Without hesitation, they shared their food, clothes, and personal spaces with complete strangers.

The grounding of the planes in Gander brought together a diverse mix of people from all walks of life, suddenly equalised by their shared experience. From the first female American Airlines captain and the mother of a New York firefighter, to a gay couple, rowdy tourists and a Muslim man treated with suspicion in the wake of the attacks.

Among the islanders, we hear the stories of the quick-thinking mayor, a local news reporter, members of the Salvation Army, as well as bus drivers, shop workers, and ordinary townsfolk all coming together in this time of need.

Over the five days the planes were grounded in Gander, unlikely friendships were formed, relationships blossomed and others fell apart. Through it all, Come From Away reminds us that even in the face of unimaginable events, the power of kindness and community will always prevail.

The Production

Clocking in at just 1 hour 40 minutes, and with no interval, Come From Away is a relatively brisk show – kept fast paced by the energetic cast, clever choreography and slick staging.

The wooden set and warm lighting perfectly capture the charm of a small Canadian town, mirroring the hospitality of the locals.

While the staging is minimal, the chairs and tables that made up the set effortlessly transformed from airplanes to buses and the various locations around Gander with remarkable ease.

The live band, tucked away in a corner of the stage, enjoyed more of the spotlight during a spirited scene at a local bar.

And it was great to see live music getting more of the attention in shows these days, rather than hidden within the depths of the orchestra pit.

The Performance

Come From Away features a large cast of 12 actors, each taking on the roles of both locals and plane people.

This versatility helped tell more of the stories from those caught in the same moment of history.

I particularly loved the way that the actors shapeshifted into their other roles, seamlessly switching costumes, accents and mannerisms before emerging again.

The narration, also shared among several characters, that helped show the audience multiple perspectives of the same experience.

The cast’s impressive vocals and slick choreography helped create a well-paced performance, delivering as much emotion as humour.

Final Curtain: Closing Remarks

Come From Away is an all-singing, all-dancing show tackling one of the most tragic incidents in modern history with warm humility.

Despite the serious topics it addresses—grief, fear, cultural tension – it also manages to capture light-hearted, funny and feel-good emotions from the audience.

The original islanders also made an appearance at the end of the show last night, with the original Mayor of the town emphasising the need for kindness and a sense of community in the world still to this day with him expressing how “kindness can be done in many ways.”

He finished his speech by saying: “This room should be filled with world leaders to show them what kindness really is.”

He then thanked the audience and there was a musical interlude for the audience to leave to.

Through lively songs and energetic choreography, it manages to celebrate human connection and resilience, without losing sight of the gravity of the events, and instead offer a story of hope in the midst of tragedy.

Of course, not all of the characters’ endings were happy, but neither should they have been – it was 9/11 after all.

And judging by the full-house standing ovation, it seemed I wasn’t alone in being deeply moved by the performance. Just don’t wear mascara!

You can find more information and details on the show here –  with the show running from December 5 until January 5 2025.