Titanic the Musical (2006)

Titantic the Musical (2006) Poster

Production Details

Synopsis

April 10, 1912: the RMS Titanic sets out from London on her maiden voyage, across the Atlantic. Billed as “The Largest Floating Object in The World,” the Titanic is already big news. April 15, 1912: Titanic, the “unsinkable” ship, sinks, killing over 1500 men, women and children. In a stunning chamber musical as massive as the ocean liner that shares its name, Yeston and Peter Stone’s musical, Titanic, tells the stories of the people on board the legendary steamer and the men who got them there. Spanning all classes,

Titanic captures the stories from the whole range of humanity aboard the ship: from workers in the boiler room to first-class attendants, from the poorest passengers, who scraped together their life savings to purchase third-class tickets to America, to some of the wealthiest men of the Victorian age, including John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim. Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s musical tells the tragic story with a compassionate book, intelligent lyrics, and soaring melodies. Full of memorable characters based on the real men and women on the ship, Titanic is a powerful, complex look at the making of a tragedy.

Cast

Principals
  • E.J. Smith: Captain – Olly Burton
  • William Murdoch: First Officer – Alan Ball
  • Charles Lightoller: Second Officer – Jonathan Taylor
  • Herbert J. Pitman: Third Officer – Graeme Walton
  • Frederick Barrett: Stoker – David O’Donnell
  • Harold Bride: Wireless Operator – Sam Lupton
  • Henry Etches: Senior First Class Steward – Laurence Scott
  • Frederick Fleet: Lookout – Ben Prudhoe
  • Robert Hitchens: Quartermaster – Tony Harries
  • Bellboy – Christopher Smith
Passengers Aboard RMS Titanic
First Class
  • J Bruce Ismay – Clark Adamson
  • Thomas Andrews – Anthony Smith
  • Isidor Straus – Clive Constance
  • Ida Straus – Audrey Robson
  • John Jacob Astor – Ian Wells
  • Madeleine Astor – Anouska Drion
  • Benjamin Guggenheim – Peter Clapham
  • Mme Aubert – Gillian Lavin
  • John B Thayer – Rob Gair
  • Marion Thayer – Margaret Graham
  • Jack Thayer – Cameron Moore
  • George Widener – Trevor Dawson
  • Eleanor Widener – Sue Robinson
  • Charlotte Cardeza – Valenda Taylor
  • J H Rogers – Graeme Walton
  • The Major – Tony Harries
Second Class
  • Edgar Beane – Mike Dixon
  • Alice Beane – Delia McNally
  • Charles Clarke – Geoff Knott
  • Caroline Neville – Nikki Hellmuth
Third Class
  • Kate McGowan – Katy Walton
  • Kate Murphey – Catherine Finn
  • Kate Mullins – Rebecca Turner
  • Jim Farrell – Tony Gardiner
On Shore
  • Frank Carlson – Trevor Dawson
Other Passengers and Crew

Adam Bailey, Ruth Ball, Alison Banks, Denise Beckford, Hazel Bone, Liz Cairns, Elizabeth Clapham, Rose Cleasby, Jennifer, Doreen Cothay, Bridget Coulter, John Cuckson, Harry Dallard, Brian Davidson, Anthony Dixon, Janet Dixon, Christine Dobbie, Pam Drion, Jonathan Gilderoy, Barbara Gray, Rebecca Grundy, Emma, Richard Hall, Bill Harland, Hazel Harle, Helen Harries, Mollie Hughes, June Lavin, Catherine Laws, Guy Lawes, Emma Mole, Emily, Elise, Stephanie Morton, Robin Murray, Derek Smith, John Smith, Luke, Steve Stephens, Diedre Tyrrell, Pat Walker, Sam Wilkinson, Michelle Willis, Stuart Wright.

Backstage

  • Stage Manager – Alan Hogarth
  • Deputy Stage Manager – Christina Chapman
  • Stage Crew – Adam Bailey, Gareth Bowen, Jonathan Bowen, Peter Bradshaw, Carole Carter, Dave Carter, Katy Duff, Jean Forster, Sarah Jackson, John Smith, Zoe Stephenson & Team
  • Scenery and Properties – Scenic Projects Beccles
  • Properties – Denise Brooksbank, Melanie Spedding, Miriam Maddox, Graham Brooksbank, Mary Hobson, Robin Murray, Deborah Siddle, Graham Sneddon, Jenni Sneddon & Team
  • Wardrobe – Jean Graham, Jane Flowers, Judith Frisby, Carolyn Knott
  • Costumes – W. A. Homburg Ltd. Leeds, Society Wardrobe
  • Wigs – Showbiz Southampton, Natural Image Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Make-Up – Brenda Mullen, Jessica Lamb, Eunice Sneddon, Jenni Sneddon & Team
  • Lighting Design – Brian Dunn
  • Sound Design – Graham Holder
  • Technical Support – Brian Dunn
  • Prompt – Jo Smart
  • Rehearsal Pianists – Steven Hood, Martin Dack
  • Front of House – David Foxall, Frank Cure, Val Cure, Mary Robinson, Margaret Graham, Anne Robinson, Jean Jones, Lawrence Jones, Joyce Allinson, Jackie Billinge
  • Refreshments – Joan Foxall & Team
  • Chaperones – Lesley-Anne Moore, Debbie Morton, Helen Cockburn & Team
  • Dog Handler – Pam Drion
  • Dressers – Pam Drion, Eunice Sneddon & Team

Orchestra

  • Violins – Julia Boulton, Rachael Davis, Charlotte Howes
  • Viola – Jonathan Rutter
  • Cello – Greg Pullen
  • Bass – Gordon Callander
  • Reeds – Catherine Freeman, Laura Ashton, Julia Dorr, Norman Moore, Jackie Catchpole
  • Horns – Mike Cottam, David Milner
  • Trumpets – Alex Lewis, Gordon Marshall
  • Trombones – John Flood, Alan Bravey,
  • Keyboards – Steven Hood, Martin Dack
  • Persuasion – Andy Booth, Malcolm Dick

Programme

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Reviews

Sue Heath – Northern Echo – 27/02/2006

THE unsinkable Durham Musical Theatre Company takes on Maury Yeston’s relatively new musical version of the Titanic story, and the company rises to the challenge with admirable professionalism.

Not knowing anything about the piece I had no idea what to expect – would there be water sloshing about? Would the female lead come tripping down the steps to the bridge in tap shoes?

I have to say that I was taken by surprise and completely bowled over. The piece manages to be inspiring, dignified and entertaining all at once; there are lighter moments provided by Delia McNally as socially ambitious Alice Beane, and the Irish jig scene in Steerage is jolly.

But it’s the ensemble pieces that really raise the goosebumps – 80 people belting out the almost hymn-like music is riveting stuff. Among the very fine voices, Anthony Smith and young Sam Lupton particularly stood out.

The acting and movement on stage were first-class, generating genuine emotion in the audience.

Towards the end of the first half, as the great ship approaches the iceberg, passengers are on deck in evening clothes as the lookout scans the seas.

The ominous music rises to a crescendo and the tension and sense of foreboding are real, even though you know what’s coming: it’s almost a relief as the cry goes up ‘Iceberg dead ahead!’. There’s great poignancy in Still, a love song from elderly Isidor and Ida Straus, and a moment when a child stands bewildered, with a model of the ship in his hands.

The performance takes nearly three hours, longer than it took the actual Titanic to sink, and it’s hugely impressive.

Fred Piggford (NODA Councillor) – Northern NODA News – August 2006

The front cover of the programme says ‘Titanic, The Sensational Musical’ and that was certainly no idle boast, for this production by Durham and Fred Wharton lived up to every part of its billing.

Right from the start of the overture I was enthralled by the whole experience. A Fred Wharton production is always a pleasure to see, but this production was a masterpiece.

Emotions see-sawed throughout this production, which was packed with pathos, power and drama. The casting, sets, costumes, lighting, and sound were superb.

The music, in the hands of new Musical Director, Paul Wood, with so many in the cast was sensational. Many, many congratulations to Fred, Paul, Janet, and the company on an unforgettable experience.

I look forward to your interpretation of ‘Company’.

Ian Wells (NODA President) – ‘Titanic’ Accolade – October 2006

I have just got back from the NODA National Conference at Eastbourne, when Eric Smart relinquished his chain of office to his successor at the A.G.M.

I thought you would like to know that, in his closing speech, he nominated Durham’s ‘Titanic‘ as the best show he had seen out of the 141 he had attended in his Presidential year – quite an accolade.

It was certainly an opinion he voiced to me several times during his year, though always with the rider ‘until now’.

Well, his year is over and he is obviously still of the same opinion.