Sting and the cast of his musical THE LAST SHIP will travel from Toronto, where the musical is currently playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre, to Oshawa to perform in solidarity with GM workers at the city’s Tributes Communities Centre on Thursday, February 14, 2019. The performance will include songs from THE LAST SHIP, which features music and lyrics written by Sting.

This new musical tells a similar story to what is threatening to happen in Oshawa, with the potential demise of the GM plants that employ thousands of people.

THE LAST SHIP is set in the UK shipbuilding community of Newcastle, Sting’s hometown, and tells the story of the shutdown of the local shipyard, around which the community has revolved for centuries. No one knows what will come next. With tensions flaring, a grassroots protest gains strength as people fight to hold their community together in the face of the impending storm by building “the last ship. Sting not only wrote THE LAST SHIP but also stars in the Toronto production as the leader of the protest.

“With the departure of shipbuilding from his hometown, Sting witnessed first-hand what becomes of workers and their families when the core industry is ripped away,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The tremendously powerful story of THE LAST SHIP resonates deeply as it speaks to the dignity of work, how it shapes individuals and their communities, and the heavy personal toll that is paid when workers' livelihoods are taken from them. The Oshawa GM workers are incredibly grateful to Sting and the cast of this show for their support as they continue to fight for their jobs.”

WHAT: Sting and cast of THE LAST SHIP perform in solidarity with Oshawa GM workers

WHEN: Thursday February 14, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. Performance in main arena

1:00 p.m. Press conference Leisure Room

WHERE: Tribute Communities Centre, 99 Athol St E, Oshawa, ON L1H 1J8  

WHO: Sting and the cast of THE LAST SHIP

Jerry Dias, Unifor National President

GM Oshawa workers

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

Photo: Sting. © 2013 Frank Ockenfels.