On the 14th April 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, and ‘the unsinkable ship’ slowly but surely sank. 1517 men, women and children were lost to the sea in one of the most tragic disasters of the 20th Century.
It would be hard to find anyone that hasn’t heard the story, or seen the award winning movie from James Cameron. I remember doing a write up on Titanic for an English assignment in my last year of high school. It just captivated me as I spent time pulling apart the movie and detailing the different areas where fiction didn’t match up with fact. And I’ve watched countless documentaries about the historic maritime disaster. There is just so much about it that tugs on the heart strings and makes us feel lucky to be alive. Even Captain Smith was from Stoke On Trent, which somehow makes it seem much closer to home.
Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Titanic The Musical is a stunning and breathtaking production focusing on the hopes and dreams of her passengers, who each boarded with their own story, all innocently unaware of the fate awaiting them. The Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the Second Class imagine that they brush shoulders with the rich and famous, whilst the millionaires in First Class anticipate legacies lasting forever. Little did they know that when it came down to it, class really didn’t matter.
With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone, the original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. This stunning production celebrates the 10th anniversary of its London premiere where it won sweeping critical acclaim across the board.
This was possibly the best cast I’ve ever seen in a musical, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that. Each one of them owned their role, and when they all came together musically, it quite literally gave me goosebumps. The chorus and finale of “Godspeed Titanic” was one of the most powerful and joyful performances I’ve ever had the pleasure to see. And of course none of that would be possible without the orchestra to provide the score. They were simply superb and didn’t drop a note.
Standout performances for me were Valda Aviks & David Delve as Ida & Isidor Straus. Their chemistry was superb and their performance as an older couple facing their demise was heartfelt. Bree Smith was also loveable as Alice Beane, the star stuck second class passenger on a mission to mingle with the rich & famous. She was just a joy to watch!
The set was also massively imaginative, looking largely the same throughout, but able to lend itself to so many different situations. We had to believe that this ship was sinking without the use of a single drop of water, and they well & truly pulled it off.
There will always be shows where we arrive at the theatre already knowing the ending. This was totally different, because when you see a character kissing his girlfriend goodbye, and saying 'I'll be back in a fortnight' the sudden reality that this is based on true events really hits home.
We have always dreamed big and reached for the stars, and there have always been stumbling blocks along the way. But not to be held back from progress, we still put our faith in the perfection and infallibility of technology.
But the one thing that resonated with me the most was the fact that we still have lessons to learn about class, societal structure and equal opportunities. This is why the tragedy of the Titanic is still an important story to tell, and has fascinated so many since the ship’s untimely demise. It stands to remind us all of the worst but also the best things that we can accomplish when we come together.
It's a story of bravery, cowardice and humanity merging. It's also a story about how we deal with emergency, tragedy and how the human spirit is impossible to subdue under some of the worst possible circumstances.
My Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Titanic The Musical is playing at the Regent Theatre NOW but ONLY until Saturday 29th April, so get those tickets booked now and don’t miss your chance to see this incredible musical! Tickets are on sale from just £13.00 and are available from the Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7649 or visiting www.atgtickets.com/stoke