Come from Away is a new musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein which has been a great success across North America and is now hitting the Abbey Theatre. It is based on the true story of 7,000 stranded passengers diverted in the week of the September 11 attacks and how they were kindly welcomed by the locals in Newfoundland.

The musical is based on true stories, real people, and is a moving story of what it is to be human and kind. Come from Away explores the purest essence of the human soul, the collectiveness of so many different people in times of chaos. It has moved audiences from all around the world, and is now coming to the Abbey Theatre in Dublin this December.

I had the chance to talk to David Shannon, an acclaimed actor who has performed in The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera in Dublin and Edinburgh, Jean Valijean in Les Miserables in London’s West End, Miss Trunchbull in Matilda for the Royal Shakespeare Company at Cambridge Theatre, and many others. Now, Shannon returns home to play Kevin T and Garth in Come from Away. And he shares his thoughts and experiences with this incredible production:

Why do you think Come from Away has been such a great success?

Why? I guess because it’s very much needed in this climate at the moment. Because we’ve got a world full of refugees, and it’s about, you know, about humanity, the human spirit, and taking people in, forgetting all the differences between each nation or race… And I think it’s very important right now, actually.

Yes, definitely! This musical seems to have some unique dramaturgical features that relates a lot with our contemporary society… So, do you think this would add an extra pressure for the production in the Abbey Theatre?

Not necessarily pressure. I mean, there is for me because it is home, but I think it’s exciting because you got the Abbey co-producing a Broadway show and you’ll be paying Abbey prices for such a big show. So you’ll be getting something fantastic and an international production as well.

It is much more inclusive. So many different types of audience are able to go.

Coming back to the Abbey doing something this exceptional is very very exciting. (…) It’s one of the favourite things I’ve ever done, you know… Because there’s so much detail in it, so much excitement in it, so much diversity in it… It speaks to a whole other level.

So, just a question off topic… Are you going to the production in London’s West End after?

Oh no no, this is it. The cast used in the Abbey is the cast used in London, it’ll all end up in London, even the set, which is great.

Do you think this performance will resonate with Irish audiences?

I do, yeah, you know… Musically, especially I think it will! There’s a real mixture musically. I think it’ll resonate with Ireland more than anywhere else, I think. And also because of the sense that we are a nation of people who emigrated, moved away… I think it will resonate because of that. We had our tragedies over the years; obviously it’s not about the tragedy at all, it’s about what happens afterwards, and how we can make a bad situation a blessing.

Do you have a favourite song or scene? And if you do why is that?

I do! We just finished running it. It’s a scene called Costume Party. I love it because there is a shift to positivity and changes my character’s life. And it’s for people to take on what a situation has done to them… I love it. I love it musically, it’s just beautiful, it’s lovely to sing, to listen. And there’s one little moment in the end of the show when one of the characters, Bonnie sings, and it starts to rain and it’s just beautiful. I don’t know why… maybe just because of the way she sings it too. (…) It’s just simple and sweet, and one of my favourite little moments.

Is there any part of the musical that you identify yourself with as an actor or as a person?

Hm… Kind of, cause I think Kevin (the guy I play) he has a real change in his life after this event and I kind of had it, not as dramatic in terms of what happened, which is what when I moved from Ireland to London. I had some personality shift (…) It is obviously more beautiful and musical than it is in my life, so yeah that does for me.

Is there any previous roles that helped or influenced you to build your character for this musical?

Not really, because this is the first time I play a real person. Also, a real person who is alive and talking and doing stuff. So I actually spoke to my character in real life, Kevin T, we’ve talked quite a lot since the start of rehearsals. I mean, the character is based on him, with a slight amalgamation of other people, but it is mainly him. So, ehm… that’s being really weird and really cool at the same time. Different from anything I’ve ever done. I wouldn’t be like the Phantom to talk to him, because he’s not a real person (laughs) So it’s being lovely to play someone you can relate to, and ask questions.

This is one of the last questions, so what would you like the audience to experience or get with your performance?

There’s this thing that my character does, pay it forward idea, you know… Doing something nice, come from kindness, they call it. Something really small, that you can do, like you’re buying a coffee and buy the next person’s coffee, something really simple. Or you know, it could be anything, just paying things forward a little bit, I think that will come with me when I leave the show. I love that and I think a lot of people will take it too. It’s just being human, just remember we are all human beings: different race, different cultures, but we still are all human being and we can help each other.

And always be kind!

Yeah, I think it will resonate more than any other time, we are all dealing with so much globally and this musical shows how to connect us all.

Yeah, and it is interesting the way that this musical shows the differences between people from all around the world, but there’s an essential part of it that focus on the concept of what it is to be human in this generation, so it is a lovely message–

Oh yes, it is beautiful… and I’m the most cynical guy (laughs) but you just cannot be moved by it, because it is just simple and you know… about treating each other like human beings and forgetting about all the rest.

Yes, and that’s one of the reasons it’s been so successful internationally, because these things happen everywhere.

Yeah, absolutely, it is an international story in that sense. (…) It would be so easy to make it cliche, or too much like other musical theatre productions, but they made a beautiful and simple message shine through it.

These are all my questions David, would you like to add anything else?

For me… I think it is exciting that most people can afford to see it, you know… Because it is so expensive to go to the theatre. I understand why it is expensive, but I mean I don’t know how a family affords to go and see expensive musicals with the family

Yeah I totally agree. I think theatre should be more accessible, I mean, it is part of our culture and I know so many people who cannot afford to go unfortunately, like students…

But now they can (laughs) and it is running for a good time as well. It’s really exciting. I love working with students, I work with them whenever I can here, or some schools over in the U.K., like workshops. I love, love, love, love, love, love! Working with students, drama students because they have a completely different perspective and not as jaded by it all and make honest decisions and it would be great for them to come and see something in Ireland that is big and new. And you wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to go, you’d pay for flights to the U.K., stay somewhere, and then pay a huge amount of money to see it. You don’t have to do that, so I think students would love it too.

Come From Away makes its European Premiere at the Abbey Theatre from 6 December 2018 until 19 January 2019. This Tony Award-winning new musical is produced in Ireland and the UK by Junkyard Dog Productions and Smith & Brant Theatricals with the Abbey Theatre co-producing its European Premiere. Come From Away will then transfer to the Phoenix Theatre, London, from 30 January 2019. Tickets for its Irish performances are available here.