Bordering the Atlantic ocean, Newfoundland is an island situated on the eastern coast of Canada. Our story takes place in Gander, a small Newfoundland town with a population of just 10,000 in the early 2000s.

The town has a large airport, built in the late 1930s as a refueling stop for transatlantic flights between Europe and North America. By the ‘50s, Gander International had become one of the busiest airports on Earth, earning itself the nickname ‘Crossroads of the World’. Just a few years later however, the airport saw a drastic decline in traffic due to the advent of long-range aircraft, and the once famous airport became largely unused and forgotten. 

Flash forward half a century and the horrific attack in New York on 11th September 2001 led the US government to immediately close all American airspace. Forbidden to enter, 38 planes unexpectedly found themselves forced to land at a strange and rural place that most had not even heard of - Gander, Newfoundland. Suddenly, the airport came alive once again. 

Come From Away transports audiences to the heart of Gander during this significant moment in history, telling the remarkable story of when the Gander locals opened their arms to 6122 passengers, 473 crew members, 12 dogs, 5 cats and 2 endangered Bonobo apes. 

With passengers from all walks of life travelling from all over the world, this rustic town suddenly became a melting pot of different cultures and religions. Whilst initially there is a stark difference between the locals and their stranded guests, as the storyline progresses we see the people join together and become one - with the Come From Aways turning into honorary Newfie’s.

Though this moment was triggered by a terrible situation, the show is a powerful and uplifting story of compassion, resilience and the power of community. A moving tribute to humanity’s ability to unite in times of crisis. The script writing and music composition of Come From Away work harmoniously together, perfectly capturing all of the emotion and energy throughout the story. 

Written between 2009 and 2013, Come From Away premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse (California) in 2015 before touring across Seattle, Washington, DC and Toronto - with the cast and creative teams coming together collaboratively to develop the show along the way. It made its Broadway debut in 2017 and later opened in the West End in 2019. Since then, the show has made its way all around the world - sharing this extraordinary story on an international scale.