A gripping new stage production brings one of history’s most famous disasters to life as Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story arrives at Live Theatre for two performances on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April.
Written and directed by Tom Foreman, and performed by Charlie Sheepshanks, this powerful one-man drama plunges audiences into the heat and chaos below deck, telling the extraordinary story of Titanic stoker Frederick Barrett.
While passengers dined and danced in the ship’s opulent cabins, Barrett and his fellow stokers laboured in sweltering boiler rooms, shovelling coal into the roaring engines that powered the world’s most famous ship.
When the Titanic struck an iceberg in April 1912, it was these men who remained at their posts, keeping the lights on and the engines running while thousands made their way to the lifeboats above. Their courage bought precious minutes that saved lives, yet their heroism is often overlooked.
Through a raw and intense performance, Sheepshanks captures the fear, grit and determination of the men working beneath the decks, giving voice to stories that history books frequently neglect. The heat, the sweat, the pounding machinery and the looming terror of disaster are brought vividly to life in this unforgettable retelling.
Premiering at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the show sold out its run and won Best Overall Show at the Derek Awards. Now touring the UK, Boiler Room Six offers a moving new perspective on the Titanic tragedy, honouring those who stayed below while others escaped.
Tickets, priced from £13.00 in advance, are available at live.org.uk.
