Come From Away

from Inside Gold Coast Magazine Edition 5

Sanctuary Cove

COME ONE, COME ALL TO COME FROM AWAY AT HOTA

It’s a must-see multiple award-winning global musical phenomenon!

Remember those moments when life completely stopped? Like when you met your soulmate or tasted your very first chilli margarita? There are also those history-making moments when everybody’s world came grinding to a halt, like the incomprehensible chain of events surrounding September 11, 2001. We all remember where we were and how we felt, and the unification stemming from such a collective life-changing experience that followed… and this is precisely why you M.U.S.T. see hit musical Come From Away at HOTA, Home of the Arts, starting Thursday 7th July. The other reason is obvs; it’s a Tony® and Olivier Award winner and a global phenomenon, and whether you’re a musical fan or not, trust us – this is something special.

Whilst the core subject matter is undeniably heavy, this timeless piece of groundbreaking art presents an inspirational story of compassion, hope and goodwill. Telling the true story of the immediate aftermath of 9/11, it follows the incredible real-life journey of 7,000 air passengers whose flights were diverted due to the incident. These 38 planes were forced to land in the remote town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada, almost doubling the modest population. Come From Away provides a stirring insight into how this small community welcomed the ‘come from aways’ into their lives, providing hope and compassion to those in need. Whilst cultures clash and nerves run high, the uneasiness turns into trust, music soars into the night, and gratitude grows into enduring friendships.

Among its endless accolades are the Tony® Award for Best Direction of a Musical (Christopher Ashley) and four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer, Best Sound Design, and Outstanding Achievement in Music. Since its Australian premiere in 2019, the smash hit production has added five Green Room gongs to its award tally. These include Best Production and Best Ensemble, along with being voted Ticketmaster’s ‘Ticket of the Year’ by Australian audiences, and we are so many levels of sold!

To create the book, music and lyrics, Tony and Grammy award nominated husband

and wife duo Irene Sankoff and David Hein went straight to the source, traveling to Newfoundland to interview thousands of locals for the 10th Anniversary commemoration of that fateful week. They collected hundreds of hours of interviews that have now been distilled into the 100-minute show, telling an inspirational story of hope and humanity. Many of the characters are based on real people and the final result is nothing short of breathtaking. Oh and the name? Native Newfoundlanders refer to those not born on the island – like the people who arrived on the diverted flights – as “Come From Aways”.

Australian Producer Rodney Rigby and the stellar Aussie cast present this portrait of heroic hospitality exactly as it appeared on Broadway and London’s West End. The outstanding ensemble includes Kyle Brown, Zoe Gertz, Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Douglas Hansell, Kat Harrison, Joe Kosky, Phillip Lowe, Joseph Naim, Sarah Nairne, Natalie O’Donnell, Emma Powell, David Silvestri, together with Kaya Byrne, Jeremy Carver-James, Noni McCallum, Michael Lee Porter, Alana Tranter and Jasmine Vaughns.

So get ready to laugh and cry (code for pack the Kleenex) and see this unforgettable story of friendship, and the unwavering strength of the human spirit. Book now! Where: HOTA, Home of The Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise When: Thursday 7 July – Sunday 31 July