THOSE expecting Sting to sail his The Last Ship musical into home waters looking a little unseaworthy, having run into rough seas on Broadway, can think again.

The man rarely known as Gordon Sumner among the music greats launched with a concert yesterday afternoon (Friday) for 700 children from 18 schools across Tyneside, who had been rehearsing to sing four songs from the show with the singer-songwriter and actor.

The event was part of Sting's decision to perform the show, which was sunk after poor ticket sales in New York, to benefit Sage Gateshead’s tenth Birthday Appeal.

Three sell-out performances last night and today (two on Saturday) included actor and singer Jimmy Nail, fiddle and Northumbrian pipe player Kathryn Tickell, The Wilson Family from Billingham and Tyneside sisters Becky and Rachel Unthank.

Inspired by and set in Sting’s hometown of Wallsend, The Last Ship is an epic tale of hard-working men and women, battling against the odds to maintain their way of life and their livelihood.

These first UK concert performances are supported by Cunard, Shepherd Offshore and Port of Tyne.

Hopefully, restarting the musical voyage in the North-East can bring this show containing some of the best songs he has ever created by back from the breaker's yard.