Queensland Performing Arts Centre has announced that Shaggy – yes, that Shaggy – will swap the dancehall for the dockyard when he joins the cast of The Last Ship at Brisbane’s new Glasshouse Theatre from 9 April to 3 May 2026.

Sting and Shaggy backstage at The Last Ship in Amsterdam. Photo © Samuel van Leeuwen.

Orville Richard Burrell, the only diamond-selling artist in reggae history, first blasted out of New York’s dancehall scene in the early ’90s with a cheeky cover of Oh Carolina, before releasing the humour-spiked hit singles Boombastic, It Wasn’t Me – surely, the most complete denial song in pop history – and the swoony duet Angel. He collected two Grammy Awards and has sold more more than 40 million albums. In 2007, he was made a Commander of Jamaica’s Order of Distinction.

He has since collaborated so frequently with Sting that the two now feel like an unlikely but oddly perfect buddy movie franchise.

Now Shaggy will take on the role of the Wallsend Ferryman in Sting’s autobiographical musical, appearing alongside 48 artists, musicians and choristers. It marks the first time global audiences will see the pair not just sharing a mic, but stepping into character side by side.

QPAC chief executive Rachel Healy called it a rare chance to see two close collaborators inhabit roles together, while Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek declared the show officially “docked”.

The Last Ship plays in the Glasshouse Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane from 9 April.