REVIEW - Go and see Come From Away - It’s a chance to experience something meaningful which is powered by an extraordinary true story!

On Thursday, we were invited to Lowry, Salford to Come From Away. See what our reviewer, Lizzie Johnston thought about this incredible musical...

Come From Away has been on my theatre bucket list for years, since I saw their performance on The Royal Variety a few years back. Saying this, I hardly knew anything about the show itself - all I was aware of was that it had some sort of link to 9/11, a female pilot is in it and it’s based on a true story. I was so excited to finally see a performance of Come From Away, and I arrived at The Lowry full of anticipation and eagerness to see how the show evolved.

The story itself is so interesting and important. Based on the extraordinary true story of the town of Gander, Newfoundland, which opened its doors to 7,000 stranded passengers when US airspace was closed after the 9/11 attacks. The small town had never seen anything like it, with passengers from nearly 100 countries all landing in the same place. With a book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the show offers a beautiful blend of heartfelt drama, humor, and sheer humanity.

We were instantly transported to Gander as soon as the first beat hit from the opening number ‘Welcome to The Rock’. From then, the infectious, toe-tapping score kept us hooked throughout. What I loved about this score was how the majority of the songs are performed by the full company and it weaves so effortlessly into the story, it highlighted how vital the community was during this time. Aside from the catchy, uplifting tunes, the score also included heart-wrenching moments which made the audience reflect on the realities of the situation. 

Led by Nicholas Pound (Cats, Man of La Mancha, The Fix) as Claude, the Mayor of Gander, the town folk don’t even hesitate to transform local places into shelters for the plane people, or donate clothes and food. The fast paced momentum of the performance gave a glimpse of what it must have been like to make decisions and come together at the time. There was a real community feel to it, almost family-like considering how small the town was. 

What makes Come From Away so special is its focus on the collective, showing the power of community in the face of tragedy. It’s about strangers who became family in a time of crisis. The cast does an outstanding job of portraying dozens of different characters with only minor costume changes and swift stage movement. 

It’s hard to pick out standout performers since the whole show relies on an ensemble cast where each actor played multiple characters, including Gander locals and plane people. The way they swapped and changed between these characters was effortless, guided by simple clothing changes such as swapping jackets or putting on hats. The transitions are so slick, you barely notice the switch between a plane passenger, a Newfoundlander, and a police officer – but each role is handled with such precision and care. There wasn’t a single moment where I was lost and who was playing what character, the whole audience was simply engulfed by the whole story that we were just lost in it, so this was never something to be questioned. 

Saying this, I have to mention Sara Poyzer (Mamma Mia!, Assassins, Forever Young) as Beverley Bass, an iconic female pilot. Her rendition of ‘Me and The Sky’ was beautiful and powerful, a real pinpoint moment of the show. As Beverley, Poyzer portrayed confidence, poise and authority, despite also being in the unknown. Her main aim was to keep her passengers safe, although behind closed doors she was also worrying about her fellow pilots and family back in the US. It’s a reminder of how these people never stopped working and had to act as an authority figure to keep the civilians calm and safe. 

The set was simple with tree trunks lining the sides, an insight into how rural the town is. Limited props are used, mostly the movement of chairs to form bars, church, and of course the plane. They’re swiftly moved around the stage, often in time to the score, to switch from scenes. The cast hardly left the stage, often sitting at the back and down the sides, so no character was ever left alone. You could say this was to show how much they came together and supported each other but it also gave a glimpse of how busy and full the town must have been, with very little quiet space. 

It really is an incredible story, full of anecdotes that show how these people came together during such a monumentous, horrific moment. Blending humour with grief is pure skill, and the uplifting moments are particularly heartwarming. It doesn’t shy away from the sadness of 9/11 but balances it with the warmth of human kindness, creating a show that’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming. There’s a real sense of joy that runs through the show, even in its more somber moments, and that’s what makes it so special.

The most astounding thing about the show is how each character is based on a true story, whether it’s people falling in love, people losing family members or just the unforgettable friendships made. I was so lucky to be in the audience for this particular performance as they brought the real life Gander locals and plane people who inspired the show onto the stage, including a speech from Claude himself - it was truly impactful and memorable. 

Come From Away is grounded at The Lowry for the whole festive period, and what a way to celebrate friendships and connections. It’s a chance to experience something meaningful which is powered by an extraordinary true story. I even went home and started Googling about Gander - safe to say I was completely hooked. I really couldn’t recommend this show enough and I’ll be raving about it for the foreseeable. If I could give this show 6 stars, I would. 

WE SCORE COME FROM AWAY..

Come From Away is on at Lowry, Salford until Sun 5 January 2025.


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