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What Is Come From Away About?

Come From Away is a joyous, award-winning musical based on the remarkable true story of what happened in the small Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland, in the days immediately following the September 11 attacks in 2001. When American airspace was closed, 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers from across the globe were diverted to Gander, a town of just 10,000 people. Within hours, the locals opened their homes, schools, and community centres to strangers from dozens of countries, offering food, shelter, warmth, and compassion during one of the most frightening moments in modern history.

Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the show tells multiple interwoven stories of both the "come from aways" (the passengers) and the Gander residents who welcomed them. Set to a foot-stomping Celtic and folk-influenced score, the musical is funny, tender, and genuinely moving, celebrating human kindness at a time of crisis without ever shying away from the fear and grief of that period.

Why Is Come From Away Worth Seeing?

This is musical theatre doing what it does best: turning a real, extraordinary moment in history into something deeply personal and universally felt. The show runs without an interval at around 100 minutes, and that tight, propulsive structure means it grips audiences from the very first scene to the last. The ensemble cast of twelve performers each play multiple roles, switching between characters with breathtaking speed and skill, supported by a live band on stage throughout.

Come From Away received rapturous reviews during its Broadway run and its London premiere at the Phoenix Theatre proved equally acclaimed, earning praise from critics and audiences alike. It is the rare musical that leaves audiences simultaneously in tears and on their feet. For visitors to London looking for a show that offers genuine emotional depth alongside tremendous theatrical energy, this production represents musical theatre at its most inventive and humane.

The Creative Team Behind Come From Away

The book, music, and lyrics were all written by the Canadian husband-and-wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein, who spent time in Gander interviewing the real people whose stories inspired the show. The original production was directed by Christopher Ashley, whose staging is spare and ingenious, using little more than wooden chairs and the ensemble's physical storytelling to conjure airports, kitchens, bars, and forests. The choreography by Kelly Devine brings the Celtic musical influences to life in sequences of infectious, communal energy.

What Are the Practical Details for Visiting the Phoenix Theatre?

Come From Away played at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End, located on Charing Cross Road in the heart of the West End, close to Tottenham Court Road Underground station (served by the Central and Elizabeth lines). The theatre is well connected by public transport and sits within easy walking distance of Covent Garden, making it simple to combine with dinner or other attractions.

The production runs at approximately 100 minutes with no interval, so there is no break during the performance. This is worth bearing in mind if you are bringing young children, though the show is generally considered suitable for ages 10 and above. Its themes touch on grief, fear, and the aftermath of a terrorist attack, so parental guidance is advised for younger or more sensitive audience members. Please check the current ticketing status for availability and pricing, as this production has completed its scheduled run.

Similar Shows You Might Enjoy

If Come From Away appeals to you, there are several other musicals in the West End and beyond that share its warmth, its real-world inspiration, or its ensemble-driven storytelling. Hamilton offers another deeply researched, musically inventive take on true events, told with tremendous theatrical ambition. Dear Evan Hansen explores themes of grief, connection, and community in a similarly emotionally intense way. For something with comparable folk and roots-music energy, Once shares Come From Away's intimate, musician-led approach to storytelling. Fans of uplifting ensemble musicals may also find much to love in Mamma Mia, which similarly celebrates community and joy through its score and staging.