Sting: My musical will strike a chord with the Black Country - with pictures and video

The multi-million-selling The Police frontman visited Birmingham on Friday ahead of the show, which will be at the New Alexandra Theatre in April.

It was inspired by his 1991 album The Soul Cages as well as his own childhood experiences growing up amid the demise of the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear.

Speaking to the Express and Star after an intimate performance alongside cast members and soap stars Richard Fleeshman, Charlie Hardwick and Joe McGann, he said people from the region would be able to relate with the show.

"I'm looking forward to bringing the play here, this is an important area with an industrial history so people will resonate with the themes of the play and he entered at the same time," he said.

"I've played in Birmingham so many times but love the region. My wife is from around here and has a good Brummie accent.

"It's a very personal play for me because it's set in my home town. I come from Tyneside, a shipyard town, and it's about what happens to the community after the closures. It sounds like a serious theme but a very entertainment and emotional drama.

"The music apparently really good - I know the guy who wrote the song.

"It's been very well received already, people resonate with the theme.

"This is something the world is suffering with - this malaise of losing work and losing your identity with nothing to replace."

The music and lyrics in the show have been written by Sting and the show it directed by Lorne Campbell.

It will be at the New Alexandra Theatre from April 16 to 21.

For ticket information go to atgtickets.com/birmingham or call 0844 871 3011.