About
The Show

7,000 Stranded Passengers. One Small Town. A Remarkable True Story.

Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in London and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway, this smash hit show shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts.
 
Experience this joyous story and soaring music as spirited locals and global passengers come together to forge friendships that will stay with them forever. The first female American Airlines captain, the quick-thinking town mayor, the mother of a New York firefighter and the eager local news reporter are among the many real characters caught at the start of the moment that changed the course of history and whose stories became a true celebration of hope, humanity and unity.
 
Tony Award-winning director Christopher Ashley alongside Olivier Award-winning writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein bring this uplifting true story to the stage in a life-affirming production that has audiences on their feet night after night.

This miraculous masterpiece is totally, soul-feedingly wonderful

Time Out

Irresistible and inspiring. It’s a musical that gets everything right.

The Time

A triumph of both the human spirit and musical theatre.

Sunday Express

Winner of four
Olivier Awards including best new musical

Come From Away has also received a Critics Circle Theatre Award, Casting Directors Guild Award, and multiple other nominations.

Best New Musical

Olivier Awards 2019

Best Theatre Choreography

Olivier Awards 2019

Best Musical

Critics’ Circle Theatre Award 2020

Best Sound Design

Olivier Awards 2019

Outstanding Achievement in music

Olivier Awards 2019

Best Casting in musical theatre

Casting Directors’ Guild Award 2020

Welcome to
The Rock

Come From Away chronicles the real-life experiences of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, and the almost 7000 airline passengers who were forced to land there when US air space was closed on September 11, 2001. Twelve actors tell the story of both the Islanders and the Plane People, revealing the fear and uncertainty that came with the terrorist attacks – as well as the profound generosity and compassion of strangers. While some characters and stories are an amalgamation of several people and experiences, others are grounded in true people, such as Captain Beverly Bass, the first female captain for American Airlines; Kevin Tuerff and Kevin Jung, the couple from LA; and Nick and Diane, the couple who met in Gander.

Gander and its neighbouring towns all welcomed “Come From Aways” into their homes.

When the U.S. shut down its airspace in the wake of 9/11, Canada offered to house inbound planes flying from Europe. Planes were diverted to fly into Gander International Airport.

10,000

Approximate Gander Population in 2001

38

Number of planes diverted to land in Gander

100

Number of countries represented by the people grounded in gander

The
Screech In

Kissing the cod or a “Screech-in” is a Newfoundland tradition used to welcome newcomers, so it is fitting that the “Come From Aways” were welcomed in this way.

The ritual is typically performed at a pub by a Newfoundland resident.

The newcomer kisses a codfish and is asked by a resident, “Is ye a Screecher?” The newcomer must reply “Deed I is, me old cock, and long may your big jib draw!” which translates to “Yes indeed, my friend, may there always be wind in your sails.” At that point, they consume a shot of Screech (a type of rum) and receive their certificate from the Royal Order of Newfoundland Screechers.

Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the four Olivier award-winning musical

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