Titanic anniversary: Hanley show among series of events to mark liner tragedy
FANS of the Titanic story will get to relive the drama minute-by-minute through a new theatrical show taking place on the 100th anniversary of the disaster.
The doomed liner, skippered by Hanley-born Captain Edward Smith, was supposed to be a floating palace for the great and the good.
But its maiden voyage turned to tragedy when it struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912, with the loss of 1,500 lives.
Now a series of events have been organised in North Staffordshire to commemorate the sinking of the world's most famous ship.
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It will include a Titanic command performance at Hanley's Victoria Hall next Saturday, featuring film footage, recitals, songs, and dancing.
Ray Johnson, director of the Staffordshire Film Archive, is one of the organisers of the weekend activities.
He said: "This is a commemoration of international importance.
"With Captain Smith being at the centre of the Titanic story, I felt our city must be part of this."
Theatregoers will find out why the ship was unique and will chart its journey across the Atlantic, as it heaved out of Southampton harbour, bound for New York.
They will join steerage passengers as they follow the sighting of the iceberg, the collision and actions of the crew, and the call for lifeboats to be prepared.
The event, which starts at 8pm, will finish at the stroke of midnight – the time when the call was made.
Other highlights on the night will include performances by Sean Cannon, from The Dubliners, and the Potteries premiere of a specially arranged sequence from Titanic – The Musical.
Tickets cost £12.50 and include donations to Arch and the Donna Louise Children's Hospice.
On Sunday next week, a free drop-in event is also being held at Mitchell Arts Centre, in Hanley, starting at 12.30pm. People can hear how the Titanic has been remembered in songs and film.
It will include a screening of A Night To Remember, and a new film produced in the Midlands called Titanic Love.
The memorial day at the Mitchell will culminate in a debate at 7pm about the controversy surrounding Captain Smith.
Mr Johnson, from Hanford, said: "We want local people to come along and have their say."
To help meet the insatiable demand for all things Titanic, a 70-minute CD is also being launched in aid of charity in North Staffordshire.
Entitled Captain Smith's Titanic Collection, it includes numbers by performers such as The Phoenix Singers, Virginia Meir, Nine Tenths Below, and Titanic Steerage Band.
Burslem-based Titanic Brewery has also produced a series of special beers to mark the centenary of the disaster.
The ales have been given names like White Star, Maiden Voyage, All Aboard, Last Porter Call, Lookout, and Iceberg.
A brewery spokesman said: "There are many pubs throughout the country who are holding events to commemorate the centenary of the Titanic and stocking our beer."
Comments
by shazzledazzle
Tuesday, April 10 2012, 5:40PM
“oh and to add on, if there was enough lifeboats maybe the 1500 dead could of been saved! so not just captain smiths fault but for the designer of the ship”
by shazzledazzle
Tuesday, April 10 2012, 5:36PM
“personally i think the whole thing is a way for the citys council to cash in on a disaster, same go'S for belfast, cashing in! but at least belfast put money back in with there titanic memorial building! either way let the 1500 r.i.p.. an avoidable disaster that will never be forgotten! so many young and old soles lost1”
by Redpitlad
Monday, April 09 2012, 6:38PM
“Captain Smith was in charge of the Titanic.! its speed/its course..!
and was ultimately responsible for the disasters.
not the cook or the waiter or the chamber maid...... but Captain Edward Smith.”
by Redpitlad
Monday, April 09 2012, 6:27PM
“TonyJohnt.
If you were a American red Indian...! your name would be talking bo**ocks.”
by Tonyjohnt
Monday, April 09 2012, 5:58PM
“If you've got nowt good to say - say nowt!
Edward Smith deserves a statue every bit as much as Stan the man, and considerably more than those ********s Williams & Wilkes!”
by MusicHallFan
Monday, April 09 2012, 5:30PM
“Redpitlad, even the most eminent of maritime historians disagree on where the blame resides for this disaster. There are a whole bunch of candidates, and Smith is indeed amongst them. The point I am trying to make is that at the distance of 100 years the truth is unlikely to to be that clear cut. Given that we should be remembering this tragic waste of life (including Smith's) , and think about the lessons learned for today.”
by Redpitlad
Monday, April 09 2012, 5:08PM
“Tonyjohnt.
That must have been the pinnacle of his career then.
music-hall...
the Titanic was steaming at over 20 kn...ignoring warning by other ships in the area of icebergs in its path,yet captain Smith still persuade his suicidal course and speed,
and yes the rest is history.”
by Alberus
Monday, April 09 2012, 4:19PM
“More money generated by this disaster over the last hundred years than White Star could ever have dreamt of by merely running the Titanic for its predicted service life.”
by MusicHallFan
Monday, April 09 2012, 3:59PM
“Redpitlad - nobody is celebrating the loss of 1500 lives. The disaster is being remembered, not celebrated, and should give some pause for thought for the causes (and they were not all as simple as you may think), the lessons learned, and the effects on the lives left behind. Like it or not Captain Smith is part of the history of this city.”
by Tonyjohnt
Monday, April 09 2012, 2:44PM
“Captain Smith had an outstanding career and would probably have retired after the Titanic's flagship cruise. Does the fact that he went down with his ship mean anything?
A simple maxim of mine : when you've got nowt good to say... say nowt!”