Time to set sail for ‘Titanic’ musical

Ahead of the Titanic musical, Frome Times chats to cast member Grant McCotter who will be playing  Irish businessman and shipbuilder Thomas Andrews, whose body was never recovered after the disaster. See full story on the front page.

What can you tell us about Thomas Andrews?

Andrews was the naval architect in charge of the plans for RMS Titanic. He headed a group of workers who he took with him for the maiden voyages of all the ships he had overseen, to spot any necessary improvements. He spends most of the show wandering around with a notebook and copies of his plans, and quarrelling with owner J Bruce Ismay, warning him not to push the Titanic too hard on its maiden voyage. After the ship strikes the iceberg, he makes an assessment of the damage and breaks the news to Captain Smith that the ship will sink and take over half those aboard with it, in under two hours.  Andrews himself does not survive the sinking.

Are there any similarities between you and your character in real life?

Other than being a bit of a perfectionist and having some Irish ancestry, I struggle to find too much in common with Thomas Andrews, though I’d like to think I might have acted as he did when the ship was going down. Many people claimed Andrews was a hero, searching room after room telling passengers to put on their lifebelts and calling out to people on deck to board the lifeboats. Some spotted him throwing deck chairs in to the water for people to cling to as the ship went under.

How are rehearsals going?

The rehearsals are progressing very well and the whole cast and crew seem very dedicated to putting on a great show.

Do you have a favourite moment or song in the show you are particularly looking forward to performing?

I think one of the show’s greatest moments will be the duet between Isidor and Ida Strauss. Isidor was an extremely wealthy businessman but, as men were not allowed to board the lifeboats before women and children, his wife of 40 years refused to leave him and they went down with the ship together. Tissues at the ready!

What can people expect when they take their seats for Titanic?

I think people can expect a real treat musically and visually. There are many great songs, and the show certainly isn’t doom and gloom from the beginning, but there’s something profound about watching a production where you know a tragic end is coming and that all of the cast are playing real people who actually experienced it.

‘Titanic the musical’ runs from Tuesday 8th – Saturday 12th May at 7.30pm with a matinee also on Saturday 12th at 2.30pm at the Frome Memorial Theatre. Tickets are on sale from the theatre box office open 9.30am – 1pm Monday to Saturday, call 01373 462795 or book online at www.fromememorial.theatre.org.uk; adults £16, conc. £14, party booking £13 (bookings of ten or more people).