The Last Ship Review – The Honest But Stuffed Musical Stars of Sting is the Man Himself – and Shaggy | Musicals

WWhen Sting says he grew up in the shadow of a shipyard, he means it literally. At the end of his street in Wallsend, northern England, the Swan Hunter factory dominated the skyline. Thousands of workers passed by his house every day to work on ships so large that they blocked out the sun. A royal visit sparked a childhood epiphany: after watching the Queen Mother drive a black Rolls-Royce, Sting decided he didn’t want to live in the belly of a metal monster. He wanted something bigger, and he would find it: first as the main man in the Police, then as a solo artist.

Now 74, with 17 Grammy Awards to his name, the star is back at the shipyard – this time in Australia, in a revamped version of his musical The Last Ship. Sting takes on the lead role as foreman Jackie White, who weathers the threat of a shipyard closing while grappling with his declining health. Joining Sting on stage is none other than Reggae icon Shaggy, who brings warmth to the stage as Wallsend Ferryman, who keeps an eye on Jackie.

Brisbane’s inclusion in The Last Ship’s international race – alongside cultural capitals Paris, Amsterdam and New York – represents a landmark moment for the Queensland Performing Arts Center (Qpac) as it seeks to position the city as a global arts destination. Inside the new Glasshouse, the theater became an industrial spectacle, with towering metal scaffolding and an imposing ship’s bow. Designed by renowned projector design firm 59 Studio, the set is stunning and immersive. Digital displays blend so seamlessly with the physical landscape that it’s sometimes difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Sting wrote the music and lyrics for The Last Ship, drawing on his 1991 album The Soul Cages and generations of family ties with the shipbuilding industry. The score moves through folk songs, ballads and choral numbers. Fans will recognize songs like Island of Souls, All This Time and When We Dance.

Sting’s presence is an obvious draw for the crowd of 1,500. He brings a strong authenticity to the role, although his performance is lower than some of his colleagues. His voice no longer had the same force as it had in Roxanne’s time – not surprising, given that that was nearly fifty years ago. Shaggy brings his signature charm, even though you’ve probably never heard him sing this way, extending beyond the roots of reggae.

While major names may fill the seats, a broader cast supports the production. Lauren Samuels stands out as Meg Dawson, a publican whose childhood sweetheart Gideon Fletcher one day leaves him broken-hearted (played by Declan Bennett, in a role loosely based on himself). Joe Caffrey plays union leader Billy Thompson, bringing authority and presence to the role. The final ship is at its most effective when the whole group comes together. The choral moments are powerful and poignant, reinforcing the central idea of ​​collective power.

The Last Ship was first developed in 2011 and premiered in 2014 to mixed reviews. This version includes new scenes, music, and updated characters. It starts out slow but picks up steam in the second act; Sting’s performance follows a similar trajectory. But the ending feels rushed, with too many threads tied up too quickly. A tighter narrative would enhance the show — and cut down its nearly three-hour running time.

The central love story between Meg and Gideon is its weakest point. It’s hard to find a man who disappears for 17 years with nothing but a letter to the woman he loves, and then returns simply expecting to pick up where he left off. The women of The Last Ark are often characterized by ferocity, resilience, and the ability to self-determination; Meg’s arc belies this complexity and power.

The Last Ship explores mortality, work and identity, as well as the tension between tradition and progress. The shipyard becomes a symbol of a shared world built on pride and common purpose. Although it sometimes leans toward cloying sentimentality, the musical still resonates with contemporary concerns about the erosion of safe work and the crucial power of togetherness.

Sting once wanted to be like the ships in Wallsend, which, after setting out to sea, never returned. In hindsight, his view of the place he was so eager to escape had changed. “My community made me who I am,” he told the AP recently. “They gave me a sense of dignity, a sense of work ethic that I still have.” “I wanted to thank my community and my parents, and telling the story is a way to do that. When you run away from a society to live a different life, part of you wants to come back and make amends. So, this is my way of making amends.”

In The Last Ship, that desire is sincere and heartfelt — even if the story doesn’t always meet its emotional ambitions.