Full company for Titanic tour announced as rehearsals begin

The Titanic cast with producer Danielle Tarento [(centre]. Picture: Danny Kaan

Presented by Danielle Tarento in association with the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, Harmonia, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W Batman, the cast includes Martin Allanson (The Mousetrap, UK tour) as J. Bruce Ismay, Valda Akiks (Funny Girl, Menier Chocolate Factory/Savoy Theatre) as Ida Straus, Graham Bickley (High Society, UK tour/Shaftesbury Theatre) as Captain Edward Smith, Sam Brown (Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre) as Frederick Fleet, James Darch (Wicked, Apollo Theatre) as Edgar Beane, David Delve (Carousel, Savoy Theatre) as Isidor Straus, Catherine Digges (Whistle Down the Wind, Aldwych Theatre as Head Maid, Adam Filipe (Cinderella, Hope Mill Theatre) as Frederick Barrett, Emily George (Claus The Musical, The Lowry) as Kate Murphy, Luke Harley (The Producers, international tour) as Andrew Latimer, Emma Harrold (Titanic 2018 UK and Ireland tour/2019 international tour) as Lady Caroline Neville, Alastair Hill (Dreamboats and Petticoats, UK tour) as Harold Bride, Abi Hudson (Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends – A Celebration, Sondheim Theatre) as Maid, Barnaby Hughes (Grand Central, Charing Cross Theatre) as Herbert Pitman/Henry Etches, Paul Kemble (School of Rock, Gillian Lynne Theatre) as Joseph Boxhall, Niamh Long (Evita: In Concert, National Concert Hall, Dublin) as Kate Mullins, Matthew McDonald (Titanic 2018 UK and Ireland tour/2019 international tour) as Charles Clarke, Ian McLarnon (Follies, National Theatre) as Thomas Andrews, Danny Michaels (Violet, Charing Cross Theatre) as Joseph Bell, Chris Nevin (professional debut) as Jim Farrell, Jack North (Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre) as Charles Lightoller, Joseph Peacock (The Osmonds, UK tour) as Bellboy/Wallace Hartley, Billy Roberts (Nativity!, Birmingham Rep) as William McMaster Murdoch, Bree Smith (The Color Purple, UK tour) as Alice Beane and Lucie-Mae Summer (Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre/ UK & international tour) as Kate McGowan.

Due to launch at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre on 16 March 2023, a decade after director Thom Southerland’s critically acclaimed production made its debut at the Southwark Playhouse in London, the touring production will visit the Grand Theatre, Blackpool; Newcastle Theatre Royal; Grand Opera House, Belfast; Mayflower Theatre, Southampton; Birmingham Hippodrome; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent; Norwich Theatre Royal; Cardiff New Theatre; Nottingham Theatre Royal; Wycombe Swan, Hull New Theatre, Hall for Cornwall, Truro; Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham; Edinburgh Festival Theatre; The Orchard Theatre, Dartford; The Lowry in Salford; New Victoria Theatre, Woking; and the Sheffield Lyceum. The tour will end at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on 29 July.

Commenting on the cast, producer Tarento said: “We are so excited to have our brilliant new cast together to begin rehearsals for this 10th anniversary production. After the couple of years that we’ve all lived through, to be able to mark this anniversary by revisiting some favourite venues from the last tour and also bringing the show to some wonderful new ones feels especially joyful.”

Southerland heads a creative team that includes set and costume designer David Woodhead, lighting designer Howard Hudson and sound designer Andrew Johnson, with musical staging by Cressida Carré and new musical arrangements by Ian Weinberger.

First seen at the Southwark Playhouse in 2013, the award-winning production which marked the London premiere of the musical which debuted on Broadway in 1997, returned to the capital with director Southerland again at the helm in May 2016. The record-breaking musical launched Southerland’s first season as artistic director at the Charing Cross Theatre with a successful 11-week run.

Based on the tragic true tale of the luxury liner that sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, Titanic The Musical has a Tony Award-winning score by Maury Yeston and a Tony Award-winning book by Peter Stone (Kean, Woman of the Year). The original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

Angela Thomas