Come From Away at Birmingham Hippodrome review - 'surprisingly heartwarming despite dark backdrop'

Before this gripping musical started, I was not expecting a show set in the wake of 9/11 to be so heartwarming. But Come From Away, with its endearing characters and intelligent script, leaves you feeling like you've seen the best of humanity.

The award-winning show shares the real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada in the hours which followed the unprecedented terror attack. They then find themselves being looked after by a small Newfoundland community who welcome them with open arms.

On one level, the show is a fascinating look at a snapshot in time and a unique emergency created by the most unimaginable circumstances. The arrival of the passengers doubles the size of the population within the community - presenting a sudden logistical challenge and an array of problems amid a sudden demand for food, beds, interpreters and more.

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We see locals struggling to organise transport amid a strike by school bus drivers; Bible versus being used to overcome language barriers and a pregnant bonobo ape and other furry passengers being cared for. But then on another level it's a story of community spirit, unexpected relationships and camaraderie during a hugely tragic event.

And if that sounds a bit mawkish, there are moments of darkness which stop the show from being overly-sentimental. Perhaps the most stark example of this is the Muslim passenger who is treated with growing suspicion throughout.

During their time in this idyllic and laidback town, the lives of the passengers are fundamentally changed. There are so many individual stories interwoven into the show and the incredible and charismatic cast are able to effortlessly jump from role to role with ease.

Despite being set in the aftermath of an earth-shattering terror attack, the musical is also surprisingly funny - it's hard not to be won over by the charming characters as they attempt to navigate this surreal situation. From the start of the show to the standing ovation at the end, it was obvious that the packed-out crowd at Birmingham Hippodrome had fully embraced them.

And then at the same time, there are some genuinely touching and haunting moments that left the theatre completely silent. I didn't know what to expect at the start of the show but Come From Away ended up being a massively captivating story of human kindness against the darkest of backdrops.

Come From Away is at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday, June 1.