Sting, Richard Fleeshman and Charlie Hardwick rehearsing for The Last Ship

Rehearsal photos have been released showing Sting with the cast of The Last Ship ahead of the show's opening in Newcastle this month.

Directed by Lorne Campbell, the musical focuses on a sailor named Gideon Fletcher (Richard Fleeshman) who returns home after seventeen years at sea. He arrives in his home town as the local shipyard is closing and the community are struggling to keep together. It is inspired by Sting's 1991 album "The Soul Cages". It first opened in Chicago in 2014, and ran on Broadway in the same year, where it was nominated for two Tony Awards.

The piece's cast is lead by Joe McGann (Jackie White) alongside Charlie Hardwick (Peggy White), Richard Fleeshman (Gideon Fletcher) and Frances McNamee (Meg Dawson).

The Last Ship runs at Northern Stage from 12 March to 7 April and then tours until 7 July.