Poignant 9/11 musical set for the Shrewsbury stage

A poignant musical telling a true story from the aftermath of 9/11 will be coming to the Shrewsbury stage.

Shrewsbury Musical Theatre Company (SMTC) will be putting on ‘Come From Away’ at Theatre Severn from October 15 to 17.

Come From Away tells the true story of the small Newfoundland community of Gander, which found itself welcoming thousands of airline passengers when US airspace was closed in the wake of the terrorist attacks in 2001.

It is a show about what happened after the tragedy: about strangers becoming friends, generosity in the face of fear, and communities coming together when the world seemed to be falling apart.

As the world marks the 25th anniversary of the devastating attacks Karen Muxworthy, of SMTC’s directors, said the poignant show represents a special opportunity for the company and the cast.

She said: “Come From Away is a very special show, and one that we felt was absolutely right for our company.

“At its heart, it is a story about ordinary people responding to an extraordinary situation with kindness, generosity and humanity.

“The events of 9/11 are something that many of us remember vividly, but the story of what happened in Gander offers a different perspective – one of compassion and community at a time of enormous uncertainty.

“With our production taking place shortly after the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the story feels particularly poignant and meaningful. We also have the enormous privilege of presenting the Shropshire premiere of the musical, which makes it an exciting challenge for us as a company.”

Karen said the emotional show also offers humour, “fantastic music” and powerful storytelling.

She said: “People can expect a show that will make them laugh, move them and, hopefully, leave them with a renewed sense of faith in people.

“There are moments of genuine emotion, but there is also a huge amount of humour, energy and warmth.

“The music is fantastic, the storytelling is incredibly powerful, and the whole show celebrates the idea that even in the most difficult circumstances, people can come together and make a difference.

“It is a story about strangers becoming friends, communities opening their doors, and the extraordinary things that can happen when people simply choose to help one another.”

Karen hailed the talented ensemble cast and the way they have approached the moving task.

She said: “One of the things that makes Come From Away such a fascinating show to perform is that the cast take on multiple roles throughout the production.

“Our talented ensemble have embraced that challenge wholeheartedly, switching seamlessly between characters, accents and situations - sometimes within moments of each other.

“Rather than having a large cast playing a single character each, the ensemble approach means the audience gets to see these performers create a whole community of characters before their eyes.

“It requires enormous skill, energy and teamwork, and our cast have worked incredibly hard to make those transitions feel completely natural.

“For us, that ensemble spirit also reflects the heart of the story itself: many individuals coming together to create something much bigger than themselves.”

Show director Nick Jones said: “I think that Come From Away is about an extraordinary moment in time where the population of Gander opened its doors to the world. It also resonates today as the idea of opening your door to strangers. The project excites me as it is such a stripped-back production, yet it has great power and impact."

Musical director Sarah Browne added: "I’ve always been drawn to the way music can build a community on stage. Come From Away requires a very specific kind of precision and heart, and I’m excited to work with our vocalists to bring those intricate, beautiful harmonies to life."

Tickets for Come From Away are available online.