Sting’s The Last Ship

The Metropolitan Opera curtain rises on the newly adapted musical The Last Ship—written, composed, and starring international music icon Sting—featuring new and revised songs as well as a new book by Barney Norris.

Inspired by Sting’s childhood in a shipbuilding community near Newcastle in the industrial northeast of the United Kingdom, and drawing on his own musical roots, The Last Ship tells the piercing story of a town facing the disappearance of their shipyard—the heart of their existence. “I literally grew up in the shadow of the yard,” Sting says. “I dreamed of escaping—and I succeeded. But later I realized I had to give something back. The Last Ship is my tribute to the people and the place that shaped me.”

Sting plays the leading role of shipyard foreman Jackie White, whose health is failing just as his leadership is needed most. In this deeply personal show, he immerses the audience in a world where love, loss, and hope intertwine. From raw folk and rousing choirs to intimate ballads, his music forms the beating heart of the production. The Last Ship is a true musical odyssey carried by powerful and moving melodies and lyrics, including well-known songs such as “Island of Souls,” “All This Time,” and “When We Dance.”