Sting, Shaggy to star in 'The Last Ship' at the Metropolitan Opera House

Former Police frontman Sting, who also co-wrote the musical, will co-star with longtime collaborator Shaggy for a limited nine-performance engagement in June.

Summary

• Sting and Shaggy will star in The Last Ship at the Metropolitan Opera House from June 9-14
• Sting also wrote the Tony Award-nominated score for the musical about shipbuilders faced with the closure of their shipyard
• This production features a revised score and a new script by Barney Norris

A new version of the musical The Last Ship, starring Sting and Shaggy, run at the Metropolitan Opera House this summer, playing nine performances only between June 9 and 14, 2026.

Inspired by Sting's childhood in the British shipbuilding town of Wallsend, The Last Ship tells the story of a community of shipbuilders faced with the closure of their shipyard. The show originally premiered in 2014, and this version features a new book by Barney Norris and new and revised songs by Sting, expanding on his Tony Award–nominated score from the original.

The production features songs like “Island of Souls,” “All This Time,” and “When We Dance,” performed by a company of 48 artists, musicians, and choristers.

“I grew up in the shadow of a shipyard, watching thousands of men walk past my front door every morning to work there, and imagining that would be my destiny too,” said Sting in a statement. “I dreamed of escaping — and I succeeded, traveling far and earning my living on some the world’s greatest stages — including the Metropolitan Opera House in 2010.

“But the further I got, the more that shipyard called to me. The Last Ship is my tribute to the people and the place that shaped me. Bringing it to the Met feels like a full-circle moment.”

Sting, the former frontman of The Police, and Shaggy, a reggae star and Sting's longtime collaborator, will lead the met production as Jackie White and the Ferryman, respectively.

The creative team for this new production features set and video design by 59 Studio (Jenny Melville, Matt Taylor, and Ben Pearcy), choreography by Rebecca Howell, costume design by Loren Elstein, lighting design by Adam Bassett, and sound design by Tom Gibbons. The Met run follows limited engagements in Amsterdam, Paris, and Brisbane.

Check back for information on The Last Ship tickets on New York Theatre Guide.