The tale of the Titanic is a heart-breaking tragedy known across the globe, but despite being such a devastating story, it was brilliantly performed as a musical. The musical has come to Nottingham Theatre Royal as part of its 10th anniversary tour, and is definitely a performance worth seeing for a new perspective on the sinking of 'the ship of dreams.’
Unlike many musicals where there are several songs and lots of talking, almost everything said on the stage was part of a song, making it a musical experience right from the start until the end. Additionally, before the musical started actors were already on the stage to set the scene and bring the audience back to 1912.
The play had a large cast of more than 20 individuals, but every single person gave a beautiful performance and took on multiple roles. Each character was based on a real innocent passenger who boarded the ship, and what their hopes, dreams and aspirations were before that fatal night.
What's the best fish and chip shop? Let us know
Whilst every member of the cast did an amazing job, Lucie-Mae Summer as Kate McGowan, Bree Smith as Alice Beane and Frederick Barett as Adam Filipe gave particularly heart-warming performances. Ian McLarnon also gave an impactful performance towards the end to demonstrate the boat sinking and the failings of its design.
Similarly members of the audience could not help but shed a tear towards the end of the musical, especially at the powerful performances given by characters saying goodbye to their loved ones or the heart-breaking moments of David Delve and Valda Aviks as Mr and Mrs Strauss, who could not bare to leave each other and made sure the younger ones got seats whilst they stayed behind to die together.
The set had been brilliantly designed, and scenes and characters were able to seamlessly change without the audience realising. I could also not look away from the beautiful costumes, which perfectly reflected every position on the boat or in society at that time.
However, what makes this musical so important and effective was after the boat has sunk and a screen divided the stage. A line of cast members reappeared to share their stories of who they lost whilst wrapped in blankets from a passing ship, they stood in front of a large tribute full of all the names of real passengers that had tragically died that night.
Overall the entire performance was breath-taking, and it is definitely a musical everyone should experience, with their being something relatable to everyone and modern issues of society still being touched upon.
READ NEXT:
