20 – 31 August

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

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.

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 and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts.

Tony Award-winning director Christopher Ashley alongside Olivier Award-winning writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein bring this uplifting true story to the stage.

Bristol Hippodrome

Photo credit: Craig Sugden