Sting to bring his musical The Last Ship into the West End

Rock superstar Sting will sail into the West End in a reimagined production of his highly personal debut musical The Last Ship for a limited season this autumn.

The 17-time Grammy Award winner will take on the central role of foreman Jackie White in the production which will play the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from 22 September to 3 October.

Commenting on the production, Sting said: “I grew up in the shadow of the shipyard. I’d watch thousands of men walk to work each morning, but I dreamed of something else… I dreamed of escaping, and I did everything in my power to get away from that life. But the farther I got, the more I realised I needed to understand where I came from and felt I had to give something back. The Last Ship is my tribute to the people and the place that shaped me.”

Produced by Karl Sydow, the production which features a new book by Barney Norris (from a book by Lorne Campbell based on an original book by John Logan and Brian Yorkey) is directed by Leo Warner with set and video design by 59, a Journey studio.

Featuring music and lyrics by Sting, The Last Ship was inspired by the singer’s own childhood experiences and his 1991 album The Soul Cages. The musical follows the fortunes of a group of North East shipyard workers who face up to the demise of their shipyard by joining forces to build and launch their own great ship.

The creative team for the production also includes set and props designer Jenny Melville, costume designer Loren Elstein, lighting designer Adam Bassett, sound designer Tom Gibbons, animation director Matt Taylor, choreographer Rebecca Howell, video designer Benjamin Pearcy, musical supervisor and orchestrator Rob Mathes and MD and co-orchestrator Richard John.

Further casting for the London run will be announced at a later date.

While continuing the 3.0 World Tour, Sting has also dedicated time this year to taking The Last Ship to cities across the world including successful runs in Amsterdam, Brisbane and Paris. Further dates at the Metropolitan Opera in New York this coming June will be followed by a return to Amsterdam in the autumn, with Sting performing in every show.

The original production  premiered in Chicago in 2014 before moving on to Broadway where it was nominated for two Tony Awards.

This revised version of the production includes new scenes and music, specially adapted for the 2026 run. Sting’s music – from gritty folk and rousing choruses to intimate ballads – forms the heart of the show which features a company of over 50.

Alongside the new series of performances of The Last Ship, Sting released The Last Ship (Expanded Edition)’ – an extended version of his acclaimed album featuring five brand-new recordings. Produced by Sting and Rob Mathes, mixed by Donal Hodgson and four-time Grammy Award winner Robert ‘Hitmixer’ Orton, the album is available now in digital and physical formats – including on CD and as a two-disc vinyl.

Angela Thomas