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Are you ready to embark? Titanic the Musical has docked at The Lowry in Salford and you will want to become a passenger and quick!
The Titanic is without a doubt, the world’s most famous shipwreck. This ‘unsinkable’ luxury steamship struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage from England to New York in 1912 and rests at the bottom of the ocean.
And now you can experience this historical moment through a musical, which is based on real people who boarded the doomed ocean liner.
Don’t forget to read my review of soul musical, The Commitments
The souls on board the ship
The Titanic held 2227 people. An eclectic mix of the rich and famous to the struggling and poor. And on 10 April 1912 they all set sail to America. This musical highlighted some of the stories of the souls on board.
Such as the creator, captain and owner. They were proud of leading the charge and ultimately pushed the ship to its limit. The crew, including the stoker, look out and telegrapher, who were crucial in the story of its demise.
And passengers, such as the three Kates who believed The Titanic was their route to a better life. As well as love stories across all of the classes, searching for marriage, status or adventure.
Titanic the Musical is human centred, which makes the reality of what happened all the more devastating.
The scale of the ship
The hustle and bustle in the opening number created the sense of a medley of crew and passengers embarking on this grand voyage. Characters who entered the audience made it feel like we were onboard. And staggering facts such as the amount of food and drink on The Titanic brought home how remarkable this occasion was.
The gigantic iron rivets that mounted the back of the stage, tiered decking and thick ropes which hung from the rafters successfully conjured up a nautical scene. And simple lighting and smooth set changes took you from the sweltering boiler room and Captain’s bridge to the first-class salon and eventually vertical stern.
The music kept playing
The soundtrack really did the show justice. The delightful ditties and optimistic singalongs filled the first act with joy. ‘Ladies Maid’ and ‘Autumn’ were my stand outs. Everything was calm, hopeful and fizzing with energy.
Until the second act when the haunting music created a sense of sadness , desperation and peril. ‘Dressed In Your Pyjamas’, ‘The Blame’ and ‘We’ll Meet Tomorrow’ stuck in my mind. Expect to feel all the emotions.
What I especially appreciated about the show was the dedication to the facts. About everything to do with The Titanic and this tragedy. It’s accurate and respectful. And ultimately heart breaking when you hear of all of the ways it could have been avoided.
Even the run time is an ode to the time it took The Titanic to sink once it struck the iceberg. 2 hours 40 minutes including the interval.
Titanic the Musical is an epic retelling of a magnificent ship that became a catastrophic legend.
Playing at The Lowry until Saturday 8 July 2023.
Image credit: Pamela Raith Photography