The Shropshire premiere of a musical rooted in compassion, connection and community is set to take centre stage in Shrewsbury this week, as community group Shrewsbury Musical Theatre Company (SMTC) brings the award winning Broadway and West End hit, Come From Away, to Theatre Severn from October 15th to 17th.
The production tells the true story of Gander, a small Newfoundland town that opened its doors to thousands of stranded airline passengers when US airspace closed after 9/11. What unfolded was a remarkable display of neighbourliness, generosity and human warmth — themes that resonate strongly with communities everywhere, including here in Shropshire.
Just a few weeks after the 25th anniversary of 9/11, SMTC Company Director Karen Muxworthy says the show offers a compelling reminder of what people can achieve when they come together. “Come From Away shares a powerful story about ordinary people responding to an extraordinary situation with kindness, generosity and humanity.”
Karen continues, “Many of us clearly remember the events of 9/11, but the story of what happened in Gander offers a different perspective – one of compassion and community at a time of enormous uncertainty. Our amazingly talented cast and musicians are poised, this week, to have audiences moved beyond their expectations. It’s a story filled with warmth, humour, energy and poignancy, that celebrates the best of people.”
One thing that sets Come From Away apart from other musicals is its ensemble cast, whose teamwork mirrors the spirit of the story. Each of the 12 actors takes on multiple roles throughout the production, and Karen says SMTC’s talented ensemble have embraced that challenge wholeheartedly. They will be seen switching seamlessly between characters, accents and situations – sometimes within moments of each other.
One of the other stand-out differences to other musicals is that the live band will appear on stage with the actors, rather than being hidden away in the orchestra pit.
Karen said “We have a team of wonderful local musicians accompanying the cast on stage, and in places, they feature as part of the story, with a range of traditional instruments, enhancing the foot-stomping score to add a Celtic folk flavour to the rich ensemble harmonies.”
The talent, energy and teamwork comes to fruition this week and the stage is all set for Come From Away to create an uplifting experience for Theatre Severn audiences.
At the time of writing there are still tickets available. Contact the Theatre Severn Box Office on 01743 281281 or via the website: www.theatresevern.co.uk/whats-on/come-from-away/
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