SOUTHAMPTON, England,
April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Sting delighted audiences in his hometown with songs from
his latest album and Broadway musical 'The Last Ship' on 24th and
25th April 2015 to benefit the Sage
Gateshead 10th Birthday Appeal. These were the only UK performances
of their kind and were supported by Cunard in the company's 175th
anniversary year.
Cunard has historic links to the shipyards of the Tyne and a
proud heritage with the North East. This great partnership saw 23
Cunard ships being built on Tyneside, 15 of them at Swan Hunter including
ones that became the stuff of legend like the four-funnelled
Mauretania and Carpathia, which rescued all the survivors from
Titanic.
Sting said:
"'The Last Ship' stories are based on the community I was
brought up in, the shipbuilding community of Wallsend, and so to
bring it back here like this is a wonderful honour and very
emotional. I'm thrilled to be here.
"I was born and raised as close to the river as you can possibly
get. I lived in Gerald Street, which is one of the streets that
lead down to the shipyard, and I could walk out of my house and see
giant ships at the end of my street, which was a massive symbol for
me. I watched them launched, which is a kind of apocalyptic event
for a child. I watched thousands of men walk down to the yard every
day and watched them walk back home every night and wondered with
some trepidation whether that wouldn't be my destiny too. I didn't
want it to be - I had other dreams.
"But like everyone in the town we were immensely proud of the
ships that were built there, some of the largest, most important
ships ever built, right there at the end of my street – some of
them by Cunard. And that was something that the town got a lot of
pride from."
Last October, Sting performed songs from 'The Last Ship' on
board Cunard's flagship, Queen Mary 2, in New York.
He continues, "I played on the Queen Mary 2 last year - she was
berthed in New York City. What a
beautiful ship - I had a great time entertaining the crew and some
of the passengers. It was something I'd like to do again."
David Dingle, Chairman of Cunard,
said:
"We're delighted that in Cunard's 175th anniversary year, we
have been able to give back, through Sting's 'The Last Ship' shows
at the Sage Theatre, to the Tyneside community whose shipyards built no
fewer than 23 Cunard ships, including legendary liners like
Mauretania and Carpathia. 'The Last Ship' has songs that go to the
heart of this country's shipbuilding industries and reflect
Cunard's own proud heritage with the North East."
In benefitting the Sage Gateshead's 10th Birthday Appeal,
proceeds raised from the performances will ensure that its vital
work in the region will continue.
About Cunard
Cunard, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2,
Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, has long been synonymous with
the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement
since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia,
crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together
like-minded travellers who seek a civilised adventure and relish
the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service, gourmet
dining and world-class entertainment. Today, Cunard offers the only
regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic liner service and continues the
legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.
World's Leading Cruise Lines
Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our
exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland
America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing
a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and
value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover
their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of
exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most
desirable destinations. Visit us at
www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.
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For additional information about Cunard,
contact:
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