The production has become the highest-selling musical at the Canberra Theatre Centre in its first week of ticket sales.

Tickets to the four-week season - which kicks off on November 4 - went on sale on July 19 and has surpassed the first-week sales figure of all other productions staged at the theatre since it opened in 1965, including West Side Story and Mamma Mia! The Musical.

Inspired by true events, Come From Away follows the journey of 7000 air passengers, who became stranded in Gander, Newfoundland in Canada in the wake of September 11.

It tells the story of how, after 38 planes are ordered to land unexpectedly after the attacks, this small community welcomes the "come from aways" into their lives and homes.

The musical first opened in Melbourne in 2019, where it broke box office records and became the most successful musical ever staged at The Comedy Theatre. The Australian company was also the first Come From Away production to return the stage internationally following the coronavirus.

MORE ARTS AND THEATRE NEWS:

Since returning in January, it has had encore Melbourne and Brisbane seasons and is partway through a Sydney season at the moment.

"It is thrilling to break another box office record with Come From Away. The reception for this show across Australia has been tremendous. We are truly excited to be bringing Come From Away, a world-class musical, exactly as you would see it in New York or London, to audiences in Canberra," producer Rodney Rigby said.

Award-winning husband and wife duo, Dave Hein and Irene Sankoff travelled to Newfoundland on the 10th anniversary of September 11 and interviewed thousands of locals, compiling stories that eventually would become the book, music and lyrics for the musical.

Come From Away - which debuted in 2013 - went on to win numerous awards, including a Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, and have five international companies for the production on Broadway, Toronto, the West End, the US National Tour and, now, Australia.

In 2020, the musical added to its international award tally with five Green Room awards including Best Production and Best Ensemble. In 2019, along with being voted Ticketmaster's Ticket of the Year by Australian audiences, the musical won four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer, Best Sound Design and Outstanding Achievement in Music, along with four Broadway World UK awards.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: