Shaggy (The Wallsend Ferryman), Annette McLaughlin (Peggy White) and Sting (Jackie White) in THE LAST SHIP. Image credit: Pixeline Photographie
So, what have we got? A musical set in a ship-building town in the North-East of England in the 1980s…sounds crazy, no? Well, global music icon Sting is here to prove that this is a story worth telling!
Alongside close friend and music collaborator Shaggy, Sting’s new musical THE LAST SHIP is a joyous Geordie romp from start to finish, having just recently docked exclusively at Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) brand-new Glasshouse Theatre.
However, this isn’t a two-man show – accompanying the music icons is an astoundingly talented cast of British and local Brisbane talent portraying this semi-autobiographical telling of Sting’s experience growing up in Wallsend.
Whilst this isn’t a jukebox musical (sorry folks, no sign of The Police tracks here), the fabric of its being is Sting’s iconic sound, with music written specifically for the show by the man himself.
As a proud daughter of Geordie parents who grew up just over the river from Sting’s hometown, I was especially keen to see this new production and just how accurately the company would be able to capture the spirit of the North-Eastern (British) people – and of course, the iconic Geordie accent!
I can say with full sincerity that this production felt like a giant love letter to the North East (of England) and its people. The story perfectly establishes a deep sense of community – particularly when we discover the shipyard workers jobs are at risk due to cost-cutting, with one character describing the workers as ‘expendable’. Heartbreaking.
The entire cast did a wonderful job telling this story, with notable powerhouse performances from Declan Bennett as Gideon, Lauren Samuels as Meg, Hannah Richardson as Ellen, Annette McLaughlin as Peggy and Joe Caffrey as Billy.
Sting does an excellent job portraying shipyard foreman Jackie White, bringing equal levels of power and feeling to his performance. Watching him on stage you can hardly believe that in 2026 you’re seeing the icon himself, in a musical, in Brisbane of all places!
Whilst this is not the typical musical Brisbane audiences are perhaps used to seeing, one could argue that this is the exact reason why Australians should take the plunge into unfamiliar territory…and who knows, you might just discover your new favourite show!
The band performing against the mesmerising ship backdrop made for an incredible spectacle, with Northumbrian pipes to boot! Not Scottish bagpipes like you might be picturing, just to be clear.
Whilst the plot leans toward the more serious side of things, and could be cut down slightly, there are many moments of light-hearted banter throughout.
Admittedly quite amusing to see was the use of surtitles during each song…I wasn’t aware this was being performed in another language? One can see the argument that audiences less familiar with the intonation of the Geordie accent might find it harder to discern lyrics when the music is playing. But not this lass, whey aye man!
Hearing terms of endearment specific to the Northern region like ‘pet’ and ‘love’ sprinkled throughout the dialogue also warmed the heart and made for a lovely reminder of family overseas, really adding to my experience of this show.
Only here for a short time before setting sail to New York City, THE LAST SHIP is just the tonic that Brisbane audiences need, showcasing the indomitable nature of the human spirit when faced with opposition and hardship.
Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity of seeing two music icons perform in one of the largest performing arts venues in Australia!
Book now before THE LAST SHIP sails this Sunday 3 May!
Tickets available at qpac.com.au.
