THIS IS the fourth time I have seen the joyously feelgood show ‘Come From Away’ and, whilst the first three were all excellent, I have to say this outing by the Crescent Theatre company is quite refreshing. And here is why –
First-off, director Kevin Middleton has decided to increase the cast size from the normal 12 to 18 and also because rather than a bland nebulous space he has decided to stage it on Runway 22 at Gander Airport. Both ideas work very well as even though the cast size has increased by 50 per cent, there are still plenty of parts to go round for a talented company – plus the set makes the audience feel like we are sharing the runway with the players, arriving with them and sharing the same voyage of discovery.
Middleton has ticked all the boxes a good director should – understanding and honouring the needs of the script, making sure there is strength in every role and sharing powerful moments generously with no upstaging – one team blending and bonding.
Every back story is carried through to conclusions and every question answered honestly. There are brilliant individual and collective performances with never a dull moment in this 100-minute non-stop roller coaster.
Picture by Graeme Braidwood. s
Middleton also choreographs the show mercifully with a light touch and perfect precision – always putting story before routine he moves us cleverly to where the actions going – everything flows and gels.
The other half of this top-notch creative hierarchy is Gary Spruce one of the finest musical directors in the midlands who brings the wisdom of a long career. Spruce makes actors find vocal depths they never knew they had.
It’s Spruce by name and spruce by nature when it comes to putting together a ‘spot- on- the- money’ band too – we got whistles, fiddles, flutes and mandolins along with the traditional guitars, keyboards, bass and drums.
Would love to have seen them but with so much happening already on the Gander runway I suppose a band may have been one distraction too far. The sound from the Spruce machine though was audible joy indeed.
The ‘Come from Away’ story concerns how the good folk of the tiny town of Gander in Newfoundland (population 10,000 and where anything of note rarely happens) – opened their hearts and homes to 6,500 strangers. This was when 38 planes got diverted to their tiny airstrip during the 9/11 New York terror outrage. Housing and feeding them made for logistical and emotional challenges – which proved in a world of such hatred and self-interest, that the goodness of humankind 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.
Irene Sankoff and David Hein have truly written a much-loved musical phenomenon. It makes the ‘feelgood’ hairs on the back of your neck rise when the company launches into ‘Welcome To The Rock’ – the applause for which goes on as if it’s the finale, not the overture.
Michelle Worthington simply projects calm presence as Beverley – a pilot and a natural leader- she has a beautiful singing voice too, leading the female company in the haunting ‘Me and the Sky.’
Amongst the many back stories of those ‘coming from away’ are Paul Forrest and Steph Urquart as two shy strangers Nick and Diane who find a unique bonding. Then there’s the oft-hilarious antics of two jokers both called Kevin – Mark Horne and Gregg Quibell.
Picture by Graeme Braidwood. s
Kimberly Maynard tugs at the heart strings as Hannah – mother of a NYC firefighter whom she canont reach on the phone.
Warm welcoming Gander folk include Brendan Stanley putting in a big, brash and notable performance as Claude the town mayor and Crescent legend Brian Wilson as hard-nosed union boss Garth.
Helena Stanway is engaging as Bonnie who becomes a self-appointed saviour of the airplane animals and Joanne Brookes brings a smile as Janice a warm-hearted local news reporter. Sarah Brookes is like a pair of soft warm gloves on a cold night as nothing-is -too-much trouble Beulah. Farbod Khanizadeh convinces completely as Ali and it was good to see Jackie Blackwood back treading the boards after a long absence goving us a very charismatic Micky.
There are a lot of productions of ‘Come From Away’ coming up now that the licence permissions have been eased but I promise you won’t find a better one than this Crescent humdinger. The spontaneous standing ovation was so well-deserved from a packed-to-capacity Sunday matinee audience. Beg, borrow or steal a ticket for any night you can- it’s pure rapture.
Come From Away runs at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham until Saturday, May 2. Click here for times, tickets and more information.
*****
24th Jun, 2026
