Sting is still the main attraction, but there is another contender now that Shaggy is coming to QPAC, where he will also star in The Last Ship.
For those of us who are fans of reggae and its various strands, this is taking it up a notch. The international reggae icon, longtime friend and frequent Sting collaborator will join the cast of The Last Ship, performing in Brisbane’s new Glasshouse Theatre from April 9 to May 3.
Orville Richard Burrell, Shaggy to us, rose from New York City’s dancehall scene to become the only diamond-selling artist in the genre’s history.
After serving in the US Marines, he broke through with Oh Carolina and global hits such as Boombastic and It Wasn’t Me. I’m a bit of a reggae traditionalist but Shaggy won me over largely after I saw Rowan Atkinson dancing to Boombastic in Mr Bean’s Holiday. You’ve never seen that? Go to YouTube (below) immediately – it’s a hoot.
A two-time Grammy Award winner with more than 40 million albums sold, Shaggy remains among the top three most streamed reggae artists worldwide. His new album, Lottery, will be released in May via a partnership with VP Records and Shaggy’s Ranch Entertainment.
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He will appear in The Last Ship in the role of the Wallsend Ferryman alongside 48 artists, musicians and choristers.
Shaggy said he was looking forward to performing in Queensland.
“I’m honoured to join Sting onstage in Brisbane and am especially grateful to help bring a story so personal to him to life,” he says.
As for me – I think this news is Irie. (Google it.)
QPAC chief executive Rachel Healy says Shaggy’s addition to The Last Ship was a boon for the Australian season in Brisbane.
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“Sting and Shaggy have collaborated for years, from their Grammy Award‑winning album 44/876 to extensive international touring, but global audiences have never seen them step into character roles side by side,” Healy says.
“To witness two close friends bring Sting’s own story to life is a rare and unmissable experience, and we’re thrilled that Queensland’s new Glasshouse Theatre will host the only Australian season of this remarkable creative partnership.”
State Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek says having two music icons leading the production will boost Queensland’s reputation as a global arts and cultural destination.
“We’re excited for The Last Ship to dock in Brisbane this April, bringing world-class and chart-topping talent to our shores,” Langbroek says.
“This stellar production will be among the first to premiere in our new Glasshouse Theatre – a contemporary 1500-seat venue designed to attract acclaimed artists and shows from Australia and around the world alongside our local artists and arts companies.”
And having Shaggy on board will help with the luring, that’s for sure.
Inspired by Sting’s childhood in Wallsend in the United Kingdom, and drawing on his musical roots, The Last Ship tells the piercing story of a community facing the disappearance of their shipyard – the heart of their existence.
Sting takes on the leading role of Jackie White, the shipyard’s foreman, in this very personal show, and immerses the audience in a hometown he was desperate to escape, a world where love, loss and hope intertwine.
The original Broadway production of The Last Ship was nominated for two Tony Awards – Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations.
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