Brisbane review - Come From Away: sizzled with energy
- Eric scott
- Sep 14, 2025
- 2 min read
By Nahima Abraham
Come From Away
Presented by the Ipswich Musical Theatre Company
Directed by Thomas Armstrong-Robley
Ipswich Civic Centre
Ipswich
Season runs until 21st September
Run time: 110 mins without interval.
It’s not every day you get to sit down and watch magic unfold on a stage. Come From Away is a story born from heartbreak and tragedy yet demonstrates the power of human connection and above all, kindness. It’s an unusual premise. 6,579 people were grounded in Gander, a small commune in Newfoundland, Canada, on September 11, 2001. Initially, no-one is made aware of what has happened, but the Federal Aviation Administration has shut down the airspace to protect its people.
In a community of 10,000 odd, it’s hard to imagine what resources would be stretched thin when their population increased by two-fold. This is where this musical starts. It brings us the kindness of strangers, yes, but also warmth, generosity, and the resilience of the human spirit. The Ipswich Theatre Company did a fantastic job of bringing this unique tale to life with all the quirks and challenges that come with staging a community theatre project of this size and reputation.
The opening night sizzled with energy – indeed, it brought the house down with a live band, strong cast, and memorable musical numbers that almost ran back-to-back. This musical is beautifully written, bringing out the very best of the human voice, which the IMTC cast nailed. There were solid performances form all, but the roles that were technically challenging and well-executed were those of Georgia Spark (Beverly and others) with powerful vocals, Grant Couchman (Claud and others) with brilliant energy, and Stu Fisher (Oz and others) who brought nothing but unbridled comedy to the role.
Come from Away is a production that seeks to eke out the very essence of what makes humanity amazing and delves deep into the human spirit in harrowing times. It may not have been a coincidence that this production was staged just after September 11, but it absolutely brought a genuine reflection to the performance on opening night and there may or may not have been tears shed at times. IMTC made a beautiful story come to life, and if you’re in the Greater Brisbane Region, make the trip out to see this show, you will not be disappointed.
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I have to concur, particularly regarding Georgia Spark. Her experience as a regular performer in musicals throughout South East Queensland, as well as her degree in Musical Theatre from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, stands her in very good stead. Indeed a strong cast and professionally presented. Really glad I saw the show. Well done on another quality production, Ipswich Musical Theatre Company.