TITANIC - THE INQUIRY
TITANIC - THE INQUIRY
“Iceberg, right ahead!” The immortal words spoken at 11.39pm, on 14th April 1912, by look-out Frederick Fleet that signalled the beginning of the end of the White Star Line steamship, RMS Titanic.
‘Titanic – The Inquiry’ is based on act three of Ovation’s 2012 drama ‘Iceberg Right Ahead’. Aside from the Attorney General, the characters are all passengers and crew who sailed on the Titanic’s maiden voyage and gave evidence at the British Inquiry into the tragedy.
Some of the words are taken directly from the transcripts of both the American Enquiry and the British Inquiry.
‘Titanic – The Inquiry’ – written by Chris Burgess and John Plews with a little help from Dr Sam Willis.
Titanic – The Inquiry is suitable for an afternoon or evening presentation using a group of nine actors (amateur or professional) to read the characters and John Plews would (if available) play the Attorney General.
There is an accompanying PowerPoint presentation including a five-minute 3D animation of the ship.
‘Titanic The Inquiry’ lasts approximately sixty minutes. There is the option to have an interval followed by a discussion on all things Titanic by John Plews. This can last between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the length of the Q&A with the audience.
CAST BREAKDOWN
ATTORNEY GENERAL Sir Rufus Isaacs (51, representing the Board of Trade)
FREDERICK FLEET (24, Liverpudlian, a look-out)
REGINALD LEE (41, Oxfordshire, a look-out)
SECOND OFFICER CHARLES LIGHTOLLER (38, most senior surviving officer)
LADY LUCY DUFF-GORDON (48, first class passenger, wife of Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon)
J. BRUCE ISMAY (49, M.D. of the White Star Line, owner of the ship)
ROBERT HICHENS (29, fiery Cornishman, quartermaster)
MARGARET (MOLLY) BROWN (44, first-class passenger, forthright American)
ETTIE DEAN (32, third-class passenger, working class Londoner, mother of Millvina.)
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Featuring the above characters the play lasts approximately 60mins. There is then the option to have an interval and the second half is a discussion with PowerPoint headings and Q&A led by John Plews on ‘all things Titanic’.
The characters are real. However, their inter-play outside the Inquiry has been invented. Little is known about the personal lives of the crew members, and their dialogue has been freely fictionalised. The appearance of Molly Brown and Ettie Dean at the UK Inquiry is ‘artistic licence’.
The 1912 British Wreck Commission Inquiry into the sinking of RMS Titanic, on behalf of the British Board of Trade, ran from 2nd May to 3rd July. It was overseen by High Court Judge Lord Mersey of Toxteth and held in London at the Scottish Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate.
The setting is in the style of a single courtroom. A large lectern is required for the witnesses. A Desk and imposing Chair for the Attorney General. The venue must be equipped with a projector and screen or a large monitor.
RIGHTS
‘Titanic The Inquiry’ is available for both professional and amateur companies in the UK and the rest of the world.
If you would like to produce ‘Titanic The Inquiry’ please contact John at Ovation on: 44 (0) 7973 502 189
email: john@ovationproductions.com