Come from Away

On 11 September 2001, when it became evident that a multi-pronged terrorist attack involving hijacked aeroplanes was underway, American airspace was closed and all inbound flights immediately diverted. The small town of Gander, Newfoundland, where usually perhaps six flights a day come in and out of the airport, was suddenly and unexpectedly in receipt of 38 planes containing more than 6 and a half thousand people: increasing its population by more than half. Come from Away – a Newfoundland term for foreign visitors – tells the story of how Gander received those thousands of strays. It's wonderful. Uplifting, moving, energising, inspiring – and an exemplary piece of ensemble work. It does everything a new musical should do.

Writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein spent a month in Gander on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, collecting material from the inhabitants and the many passengers and flight crews who returned to mark ten years since they were taken in by these evidently warm and welcoming people. While some characters have been amalgamated, therefore, all the stories are more or less true.

Every single performance is exceptional, with some excellent comedy turns among touching human stories. The musical staging and choreography keeps the momentum of the production as our attention is drawn from character to character through solo lines of what feels like an almost entirely through-sung show. The music, very much like Irish folk music in keeping with Newfoundland's cultural heritage, is rhythmic, energetic, catchy and brilliantly executed by the band. The audience were whooping and cheering by the end of the first number, and the performers held us for an hour and 40 minutes without attention wavering for a moment. I'll almost certainly go to see it again.

As a side-note, I really hope that the rights to Come from Away become available for schools performances, since it's an ideal ensemble showcase work: one act, 12 equally-weighted roles, and it even requires a band of only 7 (albeit that they need to be excellent folk music players).

Come from Away is playing at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End. www.comefromawaylondon.co.uk