Sting's one-off outdoor performance of The Last Ship cancelled

The one-off outdoor performance of The Last Ship in Newcastle, which was announced earlier this month, has been cancelled.

The performance, scheduled for 28 May, was meant to see singer and the musical's creator Sting perform alongside the cast on the banks of the Tyne, as part of the piece's UK tour.

Producer Karl Sydow said: "After weeks of negotiations and the failure to secure a signed agreement which would protect the artistic standards of the production, the producers have lost all confidence in the integrity and ability of the local promoter.

"It is of paramount importance to us that the quality and artistic integrity of the performance at Spiller's Wharf would be what we and the audience would expect and we do not have the necessary confidence that this would be delivered following the consistent failure of the local promoter to meet any of his undertakings with regard to our production. Therefore we have reached the unfortunate conclusion that we have no alternative but to cancel the performance.

"We thank all of the ticket purchasers and apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience that this cancellation may cause."

Ticketholders are advised to contact their point of purchase for a refund.

Directed by Lorne Campbell, The Last Ship focuses on a sailor named Gideon Fletcher (played by Richard Fleeshman) who returns home after seventeen years at sea. He arrives in his hometown as the local shipyard is closing and the community is struggling to keep together. 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 cast also features Joe McGann (Jackie White), Charlie Hardwick (Peggy White) and Frances McNamee (Meg Dawson).