REVIEW – Hoping the Come From Away phenomenon at Birmingham Hippodrome returns soon

I FIRST saw “Come From Away” during lockdown as a live TV screening where it brightened up a very gloomy day.

Seeing her live at the Birmingham Racecourse last night, I think a lot of people did the same, as a roar from the audience erupted as soon as the house lights went down.

Irene Sankoff and David Hein truly wrote a musical phenomenon with this show.

It gave you goosebumps as the company launched into “Welcome To The Rock” – the applause for which continued as if it were a finale, not an opening.

What follows is an hour and 20 minutes of wonderful, warm, passionate and compassionate theater performed by an amazing cast and band.

The story concerns how the small town of Gander in Newfoundland (population 10,000) – where any

to note rarely happens – they opened their hearts and homes to 6,500 strangers.

This was when 38 planes were diverted to their tiny landing field during the 9/11 terrorist attack.

Housing and feeding them made for logistical and emotional challenges – proving in a world of so much hate and self-interest, the goodness of humanity can still prevail.

Religious, cultural and gender differences are cast aside and for five days the world according to Gander is full of diversity and love.

I won’t single out the cast members as there is no cigarette paper between their talents. So are the musicians who bring us everything from Bluegrass to Hip Hop.

Christopher Ashley directs with genius, as does musical director Andrew Corcoran.

No ifs, buts or maybes from me, just absolute five stars. I will probably end up watching this show more times than I have Les Mis – and why not?!

Review by Euan Rose

Euan Rose Reviews