Titanic The Musical At The Birmingham Hippodrome Review

Reviewed by Julie Hayward

This is the Titanic The Musical’s 10th anniversary tour, since it was first staged on London’s West End, with much critical acclaim. The original musical opened on Broadway in 1997, winning five Tony awards. The same year co incidentally as the film Titanic. I remember seeing the epic film and crying my eyes out, so I did wonder how the musical portrayal will deal with such an ultimately sad story, not wanting to give any spoilers but the ship is doomed, and it doesn’t end well for many of its passengers.

You are transported back in time, to 1912. Leaving the docks in Southampton, and heading out on the maiden voyage of HMS Titanic, to the promised land of New York, America. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement, that this journey will fulfil many hopes and dreams, for a new better life. In fact, it is a story about real people who were on board, all the characters were named after actual passengers and crew.

The costumes are historically accurate for the Edwardian period; from the ship’s captain to the sailors and cabin boys, the ladies and gentlemen on the upper decks and the maids that served them, to the less well off on the 3rd class lower decks and the men in the engine room.

The vastness of the ship is described in the first few songs. The set design is quite simple, the stage has the ships decks on two levels, with moveable stairs, it helps you to imagine various locations on board, but maybe more scenery and props could improve this, for instance when the woman are tumbled into the lifeboats, it is just into the centre of the stage, I would have liked to have seen them in the lifeboats.

I did wonder how they would recreate the actual colliding with the iceberg and the eventual slow sinking of what was ironically known as ‘the unsinkable ship.’

It is cleverly done with atmospheric lighting, I was expecting it to be a little more dramatic, but it was quite still at times, solemn. I think the stillness gave an eerie quality to what was a very harrowing event.

The music is at the heart of this show and the singing ability of the actors is outstanding, I enjoyed most of the songs, some of it was a bit operatic in style, as in sing-talking, which I did find a bit annoying. But overall, the songs are moving and powerful.

I enjoyed the performances from the female actors most, Alice played by Bree Smith was very likeable and the three Irish Kate’s performed ‘Lady’s Maid’ brilliantly. I also liked the quirkiness of ‘Dressed in your Pyjamas in the Grand Salon’. There was some impressive dancing too.

This is a serious musical, it is not a copy of the movie, but it is a familiar story. If you enjoy an operatic style or a dramatic play, then this is the musical that you would enjoy.

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £27

Titanic The Musical is at Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre from Tuesday 18th to Sat 22nd April 2023
For more information and to book tickets call 0844 448 5000 or visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com
Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB