Come From Away

Come From Away tells the incredible true stories that occurred on a small island in Canada on 11th September 2001. These stories, however, are full of hope, love, community, and optimism despite the tragedy of that day. With US airspace closed, 38 planes made emergency landings at Gander International Airport, doubling the population of the town. This show tells the experiences of them all.

Despite the multitude of characters seen throughout, Come From Away utilises a cast of 12 extraordinarily talented performers who work together to portray Gander’s community, as well as the pilots and passengers of the many planes they are suddenly host to. This musical is an ensemble piece in every sense of the word. There is no singular lead character, instead we dip in and out of intertwining stories across five days, with every actor receiving moments where one of their roles becomes the emotional focus.

It would be unfair to attempt to single out one or even a handful of performances. I could list moments for every cast member, but even that would fail to truly reflect the consistency and chemistry on display. There are so many subtle, powerful details throughout the 100 minutes that it is impossible to fully capture the strength of this ensemble in words.

With only one act and a small cast playing such a wide range of people, it would be easy for the show to feel rushed or confusing. However, Christopher Ashley’s Tony Award winning direction allows audiences to follow each thread with ease, beautifully balancing warmth and humour alongside quieter, emotional moments. Accompanying this is Kelly Devine’s musical staging, for which she earned an Olivier Award. Her choreography plays a fundamental role in the storytelling, and there are multiple sequences that linger long after the curtain call.