This solo play stars actor Charlie Sheepshanks, who portrays Titanic stoker Fredrick Barret and multiple other crew members, as he takes us on a tragic journey based on a very true story. Going into this performance, I had no idea it was going to be a one person show. I mean, how could that work? The Titanic had over two thousand people on board when it voyaged in April 1912. But it does work, and its execution is nothing short of amazing.
The play starts in the boiler room, encapsulated by its red glowing lights replicating the red-hot furnaces. The other main set for this show, the mess hall, is lit by a bright blue light to show its industrial, canteen-like feel. There is a real stand-out moment here when the electricity fails and the only light source is the roaring furnaces, giving a real snapshot of what it must have been like down below during the iconic disaster.
Throughout, Sheepshanks uses his voice, body, and expression, to switch between characters and emotions. One particularly memorable moment was when another boiler room worker, during the panic of the situation, broke his leg. Here, he was seen convulsing in pain on the floor before quickly switching into the persona of the character trying to save him. Each character is distinctive and clearly defined despite the lack of costume changes, which was not necessary anyway as they were all uniformed.
The actor rarely changes his appearance at all throughout the show, apart from during the blackout when the ship’s mechanisms start to give way, he dunks his head in a bucket of water. Coming back in front of the audience, dripping with water, it is so simple but so effective in making it an immersive experience for the audience.
This is a story about a desperate journey to safety and it takes us all along for the ride. A must see at this year’s fringe.
Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story, 11:00, Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome, 5th – 31st (not 19th )
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/boiler-room-six-a-titanic-story
