⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Five stars isn’t enough for this production of Come From Away. I am in LOVE with this show, and no doubt I’ll be wanting to catch it again on its 2024-2025 UK and Ireland Tour. This is the first tour following a hugely-successful West End run and how wonderful that it opened up here in Leicester, at our wonderful Curve Theatre.

Everything starts and ends at Tim Hortons, if ever there was an opening that screamed Canadian, it’s this. The first-ever Come From Away UK and Ireland tour has opened up here in Leicester, and what a heart-warming and incredible story it is, full circling from Tim Hortons and back around again.

Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s storywriting is incredible. “We thought Canadian schools might be forced to study it”, they laugh after the show. And what a disservice that would be if the world never heard the story of the celebration of a small town’s kindness, generosity, and hospitality when the planes diverted and landed there in the wake of 9/11.

This story captivated me so much that I went away and google searched more about the extraordinary kindness of Newfoundland, and found so much of the storyline from Come From Away, and so much more. The signs of a brilliant show is one that feeds your soul with so much interest and sparks the feeling of wanting to know more.

This is my favourite sort of theatre. A true story that deserves a spotlight.

It’s here in the very first moments where we are first introduced to the locals. Half of the two-person Gander police department, a reporter on her chaotic first day, the bus-driver out on the picket line, an animal carer, and the waitress serving the Mayor, we’ll also quickly get to meet two of my favourite characters, the school staff.

The storyline is both incredibly well-written, fast paced yet still packed with detail, and grabs your attention straight the way. The cast were excellent at this sense of familiarity. I felt I knew the characters from the get go and was well-invested emotionally instantly. The show doesn’t have an interval which I think also helped drive the feeling of being in it. There was no separation, it was just action-packed emotive storytelling, and it is a masterpiece. Multi-award winning? Of course it is, and it fully deserves it.

It’s a change of a jacket, or the addition of a hat, and right in front of your eyes characters are transitioning into another character. I will be honest, this is the very best way I’ve seen this conveyed. I was in awe at the instant changes in body language, accents, and personas. Although everybody was outstanding, I was amazed by both Jamal Zulfiqar who, in particular, was outstanding at playing two polar opposite characters: Kevin J and Ali and, Sara Poyzer, who again, was switching between Beverley and Annette.

Musically, this is a powerful production. I have listened to the soundtrack a number of times and have always loved Me and the Sky but hearing the rest of the musical numbers live has really elevated the soundtrack for me, I am now truly obsessed and will be making it my personality for the foreseeable. So, if you see me in real life soon, I’m sorry but I will be bringing up Come From Away, and if you’re getting in my car? Yeah, it’s probably playing.

All of the musical numbers drove the story forward with a foot-stomping score reminiscent to me of Fisherman’s Friends. It combines Gaelic folk song with pop to create amazing ballads, with a few belters thrown in there for good measure too. I adored Welcome to the Rock, Screech In, Me and the Sky and Something’s Missing.

The show spans the five days post 9/11 and sheds a light on so many real-life stories, like a world-famous Muslim chef and how his experience differed, a couple who find a romance awkwardly start to blossom (Kirsty Hoiles as Diane and Daniel Crowder as Nick were brilliant at conveying that awkwardness and their cultural differences and Stop The World was gorgeous!), the straining relationship of a gay couple who were anxious about how a rural community would react to them (Mark Dugdale and Jamal Zulfiqar were incredibly charismatic and comical!), the extraordinary first-female pilot (Sara Poyzer) the desperation of a mother building a friendship with another (Obsessed with the bond between Hannah played by Bree Smith and Amanda Henderson as Beulah) and many other locals who rallied around. I have to mention the strong performances of Nicholas Pound as the Mayor, Dale Mathurin who I particularly found powerful as Bob, and Oliver Jacobson as Oz.

The voices blended powerfully and beautifully, Howell Binkley’s lighting warmed and cooled the atmosphere, Andrew Corcoran’s musical ensemble were visible amongst the trees whilst bringing a right good-ole time during the celebration of Screech In, complete with ugly stick, flute and accordions! The cast were phenomenal. I think this could be a show that would make people fall in love with theatre.

I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect show, but this one comes damn close!

It’s a show that reminds you to look for the helpers, There are always helpers.

This is a truly, truly brilliant show which doesn’t shy away from hostile themes, but also provides endless comedic relief. It’s a show filled with heart-warming stories and focuses on the good triumphing evil. It is an astounding piece of theatre, which I wholly recommend you to see whilst it’s on tour in the UK and Ireland.

I’ll repeat that one more time; five stars aren’t enough!

Age recommendation: 10+ – Contains some adult themes and infrequent, mild swearing.
Running time: 1 hour and 40 minutes with no interval.

Until Sat 9 March and then embarks on a UK and Ireland tour.