Shaggy Joins Sting in Australian-Exclusive Season of THE LAST SHIP at QPAC
Queensland Performing Arts Centre has announced that international reggae superstar Shaggy will join the cast of THE LAST SHIP for its Australian-exclusive season in Brisbane. The production will run from 9 April to 3 May 2026 in QPAC’s new 1,500 seat Glasshouse Theatre, marking one of the flagship events in the venue’s highly anticipated opening program.
Shaggy, born Orville Richard Burrell, is one of the most successful reggae artists in history and a longtime collaborator of Sting. He will appear in the role of the Wallsend Ferryman, performing alongside a cast of 48 artists, musicians and choristers in the southern hemisphere premiere of the musical.
The casting represents a rare theatrical pairing for the two global music icons. Although Sting and Shaggy have collaborated extensively in the recording studio and on international tours, including their Grammy Award-winning album 44/876, this season will mark the first time audiences have seen them perform character roles together onstage in a fully staged production.
Shaggy’s journey to global success began in New York City’s dancehall scene. After serving in the United States Marines, he rose to prominence with the hit single “Oh Carolina” before cementing his international status with chart-topping tracks including “Boombastic” and “It Wasn’t Me.” A two-time Grammy Award winner, he has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and remains among the three most-streamed reggae artists globally. His forthcoming album, Lottery, will be released in May through a partnership between VP Records and his own Ranch Entertainment label.
Speaking about his involvement in the Brisbane season, Shaggy said he was looking forward to joining Sting onstage in Queensland.
I’m honoured to join Sting onstage in Brisbane and am especially grateful to help bring a story so personal to him to life, he said.
THE LAST SHIP is deeply rooted in Sting’s own childhood experiences growing up in Wallsend in the north east of England. The musical tells the story of a tight-knit shipbuilding community facing the closure of its shipyard, the economic and emotional heart of the town. As livelihoods hang in the balance, the community confronts questions of identity, pride and resilience.
Sting takes on the central role of Jackie White, the shipyard foreman, in what is considered one of his most personal creative works. The production draws heavily on his musical influences and formative years, offering audiences a portrait of a working class community grappling with change, love and loss.
QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy described Shaggy’s addition to the cast as a major coup for the Australian-exclusive season.
Sting and Shaggy have collaborated for years, from their Grammy Award-winning album 44/876 to extensive international touring, but global audiences have never seen them step into character roles side by side, Ms Healy said. To witness two close friends bring Sting’s own story to life is a rare and unmissable experience, and we’re thrilled that Queensland’s new Glasshouse Theatre will host the only Australian season of this remarkable creative partnership.
Queensland Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the production would further elevate Brisbane’s status as a destination for world-class arts events.
We’re excited for The Last Ship to dock in Brisbane this April, bringing world-class and chart-topping talent to our shores, he said. This stellar production will be among the first to premiere in our new Glasshouse Theatre, a contemporary venue designed to attract acclaimed artists and shows from Australia and around the world alongside our local artists and arts companies.
Hosting The Last Ship’s exclusive Australian season will lure thousands of people to our State capital, inject more than $11 million into our economy and grow our capacity for major arts events in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The production forms a cornerstone of the Glasshouse Theatre’s inaugural program, with 29 performances scheduled across its strictly limited season from 9 April to 3 May 2026. The venue has been purpose built to accommodate large-scale theatrical works, expanding QPAC’s capacity to present major international productions.
Originally produced on Broadway, THE LAST SHIP received two Tony Award nominations for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations. The Brisbane season will mark its first presentation in the southern hemisphere.
The production is supported by Strategic Partner the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia serving as Event Partner. Sting and Shaggy are both managed by Martin Kierszenbaum through Cherrytree Music Company.
With two globally recognised music icons leading the cast and a story that blends personal history with universal themes of community and resilience, The Last Ship is positioned to be one of Brisbane’s major theatrical events of 2026. Tickets are expected to attract strong demand as audiences prepare to experience this exclusive season in QPAC’s newest performance space.
THE LAST SHIP
A Karl Sydow Production
Music and lyrics by Sting
New book by Barney Norris and Lorne Campbell
Based on the original book by John Logan and Brian Yorkey
For more information and tickets CLICK HERE
