Last night was the Olivier Awards; and I adore a good musical. Even before the winners were announced, such was my belief in one new musical that I felt mentioning it this morning would quite likely tie in with its well-deserved success (subject to change depending on results!).
Come From Away tells the extraordinary true story of a small town that, in the wake of disaster, welcomed the world. In the days after 9/11, Gander in Newfoundland hosted the 7000 people (more than half the number of the town’s entire population) who had been aboard the 38 planes grounded there after the American airspace was closed. The locals called them ‘Come From Aways’…
Scrolling and typing away recently I’ve been pushed a few ads by companies providing an ancestry and genetic breakdown service - thanks to their DIY kits you can discover where in the world your DNA comes from, going back over 1000 years; its quite amazing. The ads usually feature someone who reckons they know their cultural ancestry, only to then discover that their make up is much richer than they’d ever imagined.
These fun tests aren’t just an indulgent form of self-analysis but scientifically prove something that needs constant affirmation at this moment in time; that we all have, really, ‘come from away’. No one actually belongs to a particular geographical grid reference.
One of the real Come From Aways’, Kevin has compiled some of his stranded in Gander tales into a book, ‘Channel of Peace.’ Its title echoes one of the most powerful moments in the musical when the cast sings the hymn, in various languages and from a medley of faith perspectives; Make me a Channel of your Peace. They belt; “Where there is hatred, let me sow love,” and that gem, “for it is in giving that we receive.”
Now, if ever we were looking for a model for how to live well, channeling the generosity, warmth and fun shown by the community of Gander wouldn’t be a bad place to start. Out of one of the worst days in modern history, comes a story that restores our faith in humanity and in the notion that difference need not divide us.
And Zoe I thought of you as, at the heart of the story is Beverly Bass, American Airline’s first-ever female Captain. As the first female host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, your experience of sitting at the helm, steering the course and making history whilst doing so will no doubt resonate! Perhaps there’s a musical in your story too?