Musical Society launch Titanic auditions

The company welcomed budding actors and actresses to Abercorn Primary School for the auditions, which were held in front of playwright Stewart Love last week.

This will be no ordinary production as it will be a UK and Ireland premiere of the musical version of Stewart’s play, which takes the audience on a trip through the streets of Belfast and on board the fateful voyage of RMS Titanic.

Stewart first penned his spin on the Titanic story some thirty years ago, first of all for local schools around Belfast and then later as a full length play for the Bart Players in the Group Theatre in Belfast.

“It was staged to full houses and it was a very interesting experience for me,” explained Stewart. “It was such a powerful story and the audiences were always gripped.”

Stewart thought little more about the play until a few months ago when he was contacted by Leonard Anderson from Banbridge Musical Society who was keen to re-imagine the play as a musical.

“I’m not a very musical person,” admitted Stewart, “but I was keen to see what they would do with it.

“I trimmed down the script and took out some of the scenes and the company added in the music.

“The show tells the story of different characters from the building of the ship through to it sinking and about the impact it had on their lives.

“It is epic and it is very emotional,” he continued.

“I am agog to see what the society do with it. I think it will be a fantastic show and I hope everyone goes along to see it.”