Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story, Forest Theatre at Greenside @ George Street Review
Written by Penny for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Boiler Room Six tells the true story of Frederick Barrett, a stoker on board the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic. Its 2024 Fringe run sold out and this tale of endurance and survival is back for a second run. Written and directed by Tom Foreman, it starts with Barrett’s testimony at the inquiry into the disaster – his account providing vital evidence into the sinking of the unsinkable ship.
Foreman’s script and staging gives us a superbly crafted and original take on one of the most famous tragedies in modern history, with excellent use of sound and lighting that takes us deep into the pressure-cooker environment of the ship’s boiler rooms and ultimately moving through the ship until we’re following Barrett up on deck and then adrift in a lifeboat.
The role of Barrett, and all of the characters he encounters during his time at sea, is played by Charlie Sheepshanks in a tour de force performance. He shows us the hard work, the camaraderie and the tensions between the men who are keeping this huge ship moving. He jumps effortlessly between characters to bring us recognisable individuals, including the senior officer, the joker, the bully and the young lad at sea for the first time. Each of these are framed by their interactions with Barrett and as the jeopardy rises, his reactions transport us from a stuffy performance space to taking in the enormity of the unfolding disaster.
The language used takes us from the rough, unpolished banter between the crew to more poetic descriptions that really hit home. When Barrett describes the monotony of keeping the fires burning as a “dance”, this hard graft becomes almost romantic and lyrical.
This is a brilliantly written story that runs with a great pace and offers a fantastic performance from its actor. The Titanic story is one that most people know well, but this focus on the working men and their sacrifice gives a very clear focus on the resilience of humanity in the face of the impossible. It’s powerful, emotional and absolutely gripping from start to finish.
Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story starts at 12.40 with a 55 minute running time at Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236) until Saturday 23rd August. Book tickets here.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
