It’s a little over 24 years since the world was stunned by the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, but the events and consequences of that event have hung over the world to this day.
Few would have thought at the time that 9-11 would also spawn stories of courage and hope, much less a joyous and uplifting stage musical, but Come From Away is just that – a hundred non-stop minutes of happiness and tragedy, inspired by the events of 9-11 that occurred in a tiny Canadian town.
Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company, hot on the heels of its brilliant season of Death of A Salesman, is gearing up for its 2025 musical – and Come From Away is expected to set a new high-water mark for musicals in East Gippsland.
“Come From Away is based on the actual events that unfolded when the United States closed all its airspace in the wake of the attacks in New York,” production manager Haylee Treasure said.
“When all the American airports shut down, there were literally hundreds of incoming flights, carrying thousands of passengers, that had to find somewhere else to land, and quickly. Come From Away is the true story of what happened in one small town in Newfoundland.”
The isolated town of Gander has a population of around 9000, but it also has a disproportionately large airport – a leftover from the 1960s when airliners were obliged to stop somewhere to refuel. When 9-11 happened, no fewer than 38 jumbo-sized airliners literally descended on Gander, almost doubling its population in a few hours – and with no indication of when they might leave. How the town and its free-spirited country-folk dealt with the ‘invasion’ forms the basis of Come From Away.
“Come from away is a term the locals use for anyone who doesn’t originate from Newfoundland,” Haylee said.
“It sounds like a put-down, but as the events of this musical show, the people of Newfoundland are anything but unwelcoming to strangers.
“Within an hour of the news breaking in New York, the entire population of Gander mobilised to prepare for, accommodate and feed people from all over the world, with their many languages, customs, beliefs, dietary and personal requirements, and emotional struggles as they tried to contact the outside world and connect with their loved ones.
“The resulting story is so uplifting, it made Come From Away a world-wide hit, playing almost 1700 times on Broadway, becoming the most successful Canadian musical of all time, spawning numerous versions around the world, and garnering too many awards to list.”
Two years ago a reviewer wrote: “On September 11, 2001, the world stopped – on September 12, their stories moved us all”.
In May 2025, East Gippslanders will see what he meant.
Casting auditions for Come From Away will be held in November. In particular, director Peter Martignoles is committed to casting at least two BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of colour) actors in key roles. LGBTQI+ and BIPOC performers are encouraged to apply, and no prior theatre experience is necessary.
Details are available on the website of Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company.
