This week, I had the pleasure of joining a large audience at Hull New Theatre to watch “Titanic, The Musical”.
Initially, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, given our collective familiarity with the story of the ill-fated liner and the cinematic portrayal of Jack and Rose. However, this production is far from just a retelling of the movie — it is undeniably superior.
The stage transforms into the deck and bridge of the Titanic, an arrangement which stirred anticipatory whispers from the man seated in front of me about the portrayal of the sinking scene. The atmosphere was electric. With the dimming of lights, cast members poured in from the back of the auditorium, winding their way towards the stage. The opening two numbers they performed were simply breathtaking; the harmonies and vocal performances were so exquisite they sent tingles down my spine.
The often underappreciated music and lyrics by Maury Weston truly outshine any Lloyd-Webber piece, at least in my estimation. Following these opening songs, the audience exploded into cheering, and we were only a couple of songs into the performance.
The story introduced us to a variety of characters — the crew, ranging from the stoker to the Captain, the ship’s owner and designer, Ismay and Andrews, and the passengers from all three classes. It was intriguing to see these characters develop and grow throughout the performance, punctuated by more heart-warming singing and catchy tunes.
As the Titanic made its way towards America, the looming tragedy was hinted at subtly through iceberg warnings from other ships. An undercurrent of tension was palpable as Captain Smith faced pressure from Bruce Ismay to reach New York in record time, despite the Captain’s evident reluctance.
The collision with the iceberg may have lacked the anticipated dramatic impact, but the ensuing scenes of passengers gathering in the saloons of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic more than compensated. The cast succeeded in immersing the audience in the lives of the crew and passengers; the looming tragedies were felt profoundly. The third-class passengers were heartrendingly confined to their section of the ship, while first-class ladies and children were given priority for the lifeboats.
A poignant scene followed the departure of the ladies in the lifeboats, focusing on the men left behind on deck. This moment was punctuated by a dose of black humour when two characters, facing impending death, joked that at least they wouldn’t be leaving any widows.
As the ship began to sink, the set dynamically shifted to mimic the ship’s descent into the dark, icy sea, and the tumultuous struggles of those left aboard. A peaceful, eerie silence followed the sinking, the ship now resting at the ocean’s floor, and ghostly characters continued their routines.
The survivors relayed grim facts about the catastrophe — the death of 1,517 people, the shortage of lifeboats — which led to a stirring finale. The audience reciprocated with an equally enthusiastic standing ovation, which was richly deserved.
This show was a roller-coaster of emotions that left me truly impressed. The music was unforgettable, and the performance is undoubtedly worth attending at Hull New Theatre this week.
It’s showing until Saturday and tickets are still available at hulltheatres.co.uk
It’s worth noting Hull’s own connections to the Titanic. Some of the ship’s crew hailed from Hull — Stephen Davis, an Able seaman; Anthony Wood Frost, who worked for Harland & Wolff, the company that built the Titanic, and went down with the ship; John Rice, assistant purser, and George Hogg, who survived. This tragic event has not been forgotten and indeed led to significantly improved safety measures for both crew and passengers in subsequent years.”
