From the opening bars of the first song, it’s clear that ‘The Last Ship’ means business.

A gripping tale punctuated with knockout tunes, Sting’s debut musical pulls no punches in its story of a Wallsend shipyard on the brink of extinction.

Under the direction of iron-willed foreman Jackie White (Joe McGann) and beetroot-faced shop steward Billy Thompson (Joe Caffrey), the workers fight to hold together the only life they’ve ever known.

The battle to save the shipyard is interjected with the tale of Gideon Fletcher (Richard Fleeshman), who returns home after 17 years at sea to win back his childhood sweetheart Meg Dawson (Frances McNamee).

Fleeshman, whose voice bears more than a passing resemblance to Sting (who is in the audience), nails the role of loveable rogue Gideon whilst Kensington-born McGann delivers a gritty yet vulnerable performance sure to resonate with Liverpool audiences.

But this is a show as much about strong women as it is about strong men.

Charlie Hardwick shines as Jackie’s steadfast wife Peggy White and McNamee astounds both with voice and performance as a single mother left to fend for herself by Gideon.

Joe McGann as Jackie White with Charlie Hardwick as Peggy White.

Although it deals with some big issues both past and present; the decline of traditional British industries, the impact of Thatcher-era polices on the North and the preservation of the NHS – this is still very much a personal story.

Anyone familiar with the life story of the man born Gordon Sumner will quickly draw parallels between Gideon’s decision to shun a life in the shipyard and his daughter Ellen’s plan to head to London to make a record with her band.

Sting’s stamp was clear on the musical numbers as well. Packed with equal parts rousing foot stompers and tender ballads, the former Police frontman couldn’t resist joining an on-stage singalong come curtain call time.

The Last Ship projections by 59 Productions.

The set meanwhile, designed by 59 Production, sparkles in its own right – expertly utilising dramatic projections to capture the eroding majesty of the shipyard against doom-laden North East skies.

Whilst the first half might have benefited with losing a few numbers, the second was a taught, lean machine – picking up speed like a great steamer after the interval and thundering on towards a dramatic finale.

‘The Last Ship’ makes one hell of a splash.

At the Playhouse until 14 April

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