The curtain will come down one last time tonight bringing Come From Away’s record-breaking Newcastle season to a close, after sweeping audiences to their feet for a standing ovation after all 23 shows.
More than 21,500 theatregoers attended from across the Hunter and beyond, who flocked to the Civic Theatre during Come From Away’s three-week extended run to share in the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from around the world who were grounded in Newfoundland Canada in the wake of 9/11.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Come From Away has impressed theatregoers during its Newcastle debut and whet the city’s appetite for more musical theatre already proven on Broadway.
“Newcastle has waited 30 years to see the return of a professional Broadway production and Come From Away has been well worth the wait. Having smashed previous box office ticket sales records, our city’s appetite for live musical theatre is alive and well,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Attracting a professional Broadway production of this calibre is a testament to Newcastle’s growth as a world-class cultural city and indicative of our thriving live performing arts scene. As a city, we can’t wait to welcome the next Broadway hit to Newcastle.”
Of the more than 21,500 theatregoers, almost 50 per cent of tickets were purchased by visitors outside of Newcastle and the Hunter, from intrastate destinations like Narrabri and Bellingen to interstate destinations like Tasmania, delivering a ripple effect to accommodation providers, local businesses and the wider visitor economy.
Local accommodation providers like QT Newcastle have been welcoming guests from far-flung country NSW to Melbourne during the past three weeks according to General Manager Michael Stamboulidis.
“We’ve been run off our feet with guests here to catch a glimpse of Broadway,” Mr Stamboulidis said.
“Our accommodation/theatre packages have been popular among theatregoers and the hotel has seen high demand whilst Come From Away has been showing.”
Among the opening night crowd was Canadian-born super fan Zarina Varley Scott, who travelled to Newcastle from Sydney’s Northern Beaches to experience Come From Away’s Newcastle debut.
“This is the ninth time I’ve seen Come From Away, in various locations around the world, and I couldn’t wait to see it again in Newcastle. It did not disappoint,” Ms Varley Scott said.
Novocastrian Di Flemming was also thrilled to see Come From Away in Newcastle at the historic Civic Theatre on the opening night.
“It was a rollercoaster of a ride, I had the best time,” Ms Flemming said.