Press coverage -pre show publicity Click on a cutting to see an enlarged version

Press coverage - post show reviews Click on a cutting to see an enlarged version

"TITANIC - A NEW MUSICAL
TO SAIL INTO LIVERPOOL"

Described by the critics as "the greatest American Musical to have been written in 15 years" the award-winning TITANIC - The Musical will have its Merseyside Premiere in June 2005 when WKLOS's production of this "joyous, breathtaking and heartbreaking" show opens at Liverpool's Empire Theatre.

Liverpool owned and registered, RMS Titanic was the largest, strongest and grandest ocean liner in the world - called, in fact, the 'unsinkable' ship. In the early hours of April 15, 1912, just days into her maiden voyage, the crown jewel of the White Star Line struck an iceberg and sank. A total of 1517 souls - men, women and children - lost their lives (only 711 survived). Many of her officers, crew and passengers came from or had family connections with Liverpool.

The sinking of RMS Titanic remains the quintessential disaster story of the 20^th Century. Whilst of universal interest, it continues to have a special place in Liverpool's cultural heritage. In the build up to the European Capital of Culture year in 2008, 2005 has been themed 'Sea Liverpool' to celebrate the City's maritime legacy. It is, therefore, fitting that TITANIC - The Musical will have its Merseyside Premiere in a year which will see the opening of Liverpool's cruise liner terminal, the 25^th annual Mersey River Festival, the start of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and the bicentennial celebration of the Battle of Trafalgar.

TITANIC - The Musical swept the Tony Awards on Broadway in 1997, winning 5 including Best Musical, and went on to enjoy considerable success throughout the USA and Europe. It had its UK Premiere in May 2004. WKLOS will be one of the first companies in the country to stage this ground breaking show. The planning and preparation has been underway since the performing rights were released in December 2003. As one might expect, the demands and challenges in every department are genuinely 'titanic' in proportion! A huge cast of singers, actors and dancers (both adults and children) is being assembled from across Merseyside together with a technical support team to match. It is anticipated that the production costs will be in the region of �90,000.

WKLOS is a non-professional, non-profit making company with charitable status. It is self-financing and is in part reliant upon the generosity of individuals and businesses interested in sponsoring and promoting the Arts within the local community. TITANIC - The Musical will be a major event which will undoubtedly attract a lot of interest given RMS Titanic's integral role in Liverpool's maritime legacy. WKLOS would welcome any assistance, financial or otherwise, towards the staging, marketing, publicity and general promotion of TITANIC - The Musical.

WKLOS has been established for over 50 years. It has a large membership with a strong musical tradition and high standards of performance. Under the leadership of its present Artistic Production Team it has acquired a reputation for taking on a challenge and meeting it. This forward-thinking has been reflected in its choice of recent productions - 'Chess', 'Candide' and 'Evita'. Its 50^th anniversary production of 'Chess' was awarded the honour of Best Musical in the National Operatic and Dramatic Association Awards 2001. Following this success, WKLOS was one of only ten companies nationwide to be specially invited by Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group to stage the non-professional Premiere of 'Evita'. Its 2003 production of 'My Fair Lady' at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, was variously described by the Liverpool Echo as 'slick' and 'professional' and received three nominations for awards in the National Operatic and Dramatic Association Awards 2004.

TITANIC - The Musical manages to be grave and entertaining, sombre and joyful. It is one of those rare musicals that achieve tragic dignity. Book your passage aboard the world's most infamous ship, 'the ship of dreams'.

Story and book by	Peter Stone
Music and lyrics by	Maury Yeston

Captain E.J. Smith	Mike Ellis
1st Officer William Murdoch	Simon Killeen
2nd Officer Charles Lightoller	Tony Clare
3rd Officer Herbert J Pitman	Mike Lockley
Frederick Barrett - stoker	Keith Phillips
Harold Bride - radioman	Paul Henderson
Henry Etches - 1st Class Steward	Jonathan Taylor
Andrew Latimer	Ian Browell
Frederick Fleet - lookout	Chris Liston
Quartermaster Robert Hitchens	Gerry Johnston
4th Officer Joseph Boxhall	Chris Docherty
Chief Engineer Joseph Bell	Ian Browell
Stewardess Robinson	Nicky Mellors
Stewardess Hutchinson	Joan Reynolds-Jones
Wallace Hartley	Mark Gardner
Bellboy	Rory Cubbin
2nd Class Steward	Oliver Hambly
3rd Class Steward	Ross Hawley
Bandsman Taylor	Gerry Johnston
Bandsman Bricoux	Tom Evans
Stoker	Graham Rannard
Sailor	Neil Alveston
Stevedore	Ross Hawley

J. Bruce Ismay - the owner	Michael Kennedy
Thomas Andrews - the builder	Stuart Raphel
Isidor Straus *The Straus's - photo 1*	Eric Mates
Ida Straus *The Straus's - photo 2*	Barbara Adams
J.J.Astor	Clive Jones
Madeline Astor	Joanne Ellis
Benjamin Guggenheim	John Phipps
Madame Aubert	Denise Milnes
John B Thayer	Tony Lacey
Marion Thayer	Andrea Otter
Jack Thayer	Jack Kenny
George Widener	Graham Rannard
Eleanor Widener	Jeanette Jarrell
Charlotte Cardoza	Fran Allen
J.H. Rogers	Derek Thompson
The Major	Ray Davies
Edith Corse Evans	Niki Simmons
Charles Clarke	Robbie Orford
Caroline Neville	Katy Hoskinson
Edgar Beane	David Crosby
Alice Beane	Tia Chang
Kate McGowen	Samantha Arnold
Kate Murphey *Three Kates photo*	Michelle Dennett
Kate Mullins	Sarah Hardman
Jim Farrell	Stephen Hazlehurst
Frank Carlson	Derek Thomson
First Man	Alf Gatfield
Second Man	Neil Alveston
Third Man	Oliver Hambly
Fourth Man	Gerry Fear
German Man	Eric Mates
Italian Man	Chris Liston
Italian woman	Charlotte Lomax
Barrett's girlfriend	Jane Graham
Fleet's girlfriend	Lucy Moors
Bride's mother	Lois Holland

Beki Allen	John Bayliss
Helen Banton	Ken Basnett
Jan Bradshaw	Jack Burnicle
Louise Brookes	Rob Dolan
Victoria Casement	Derrick Fear
Wendy Chapman	John Garrett
Sheila Disley
Carolyn Garland
Margaret Gordon
Sue Jarvis
Wendy Newton
Cheryl Seabury
Jean Taylor
Katrina Youde
Jean Bower
*Children*	Children & dogs photograph
Ben Graham	Catherine McGinn-Roberts
Kemal Kuguloglu	Lucy Moors
Jonathan McManus	Beverley Morrissey
Luke Sanford	Eleanor Platt
Rachael Buckley	Melanie Stott
Natasha Carlyle

*Dancers*
Danielle Carlyle	Kemal Kuguloglu
Catherine Jennings	Tom Evans
Gemma McDougall	Rory Cubbin
Lucy Moors
Beverley Morrissey
Sara O'Donnell
Katie Sheridan
Victoria Usherwood

Set Construction	Setfree Ltd
Lighting design	Lomax Electrical
Sound Design	Mike Haxby and team
Costume Design & Wardrobe	Jean Taylor & team
Costumes	Kevin Darby Costumes, Cardiff
Stage management & Props	Mary Newton, Simon Grainger
Properties	Howarth Wrightson Ltd
Make-up	Lee Ireland and team
Ticket Secretary	Bob Jarvis
Marketing & Publicity	Nicky Mellors & team
Front of House Co-ordinator	Howard Reynolds-Jones
DSM / Book	Peter Kinder
Visual Projection	Ken Rotchel
Signwriting	Bill Seabury
Poster and Programme design	Nick Sample
Programme compilation	Joan Reynolds-Jones
Photographs	Crystal Clear photography
Foyer Photographs	Graham Rannard Photography
Pekingese dogs	Owned & trained by Lindsay & Charlotte McNamara
Stage crew, Lighting & Props	Fran Anyon, Mary Bell, Diane Coldbeck, Helen Davies, Howard Davies, Daniel Ellis, Jessica Donovan, Christine Harland, Karen Hall, Angela Higham, Bob Jarvis, Marg Jones, Richard Jones, Jenny King, Julie Lomax, Chris Mayers, Ian McDonald, Irene Mitchell, Christopher Newton, Cathy Pickavance, Ryan Pleavin, Geoff Simmons, Kyle Sinnett, Graham Tolan, Dave Usherwood, Natalie Veste, Dave Williams, Kevin Wood

Violins	Morris Saleh ( leader ), Celia Hebron, Bridget McKeown, Sonia Nash,
Violas	Russ Aubusson, Janice Cashin
Cello	Liz McIlwaine
Bass	Carl Hinde
Keyboards	David Steedman, Rachel Williams
Flute & Piccolo	Beth Cashin
Oboe & Cor Anglais	Hilary Duncombe
Clarinet	Janet Crossley
Flute & Clarinet	Phil Shotton
Bassoon	Anthea Wood
Trumpets	Julie Baker, Andrew Keegan
Horns	Rob Watson, Cliff Jones
Trombones	John Davies, Tim Lenehan
Percussion	Tony Jennings, Tessa Taylor

President	Lee Ireland
Vice- President	Barbara Adams Colin Iveson
Executive Committee
Chairman	Michael Kennedy
Vice - Chairman	Louise Brookes
Hon. Secretary	Ray Davies
Hon. Treasurer	Jane Graham
Committee members
Michelle Dennett	Jan Bradshaw
Oliver Hambly	Ian Browell
Lois Holland	Beki Allen
Sue Jarvis	Nicky Mellors
Denise Milnes	Jean Taylor
Life Members
Barbara Adams	Jean Bower
Ray Davies	Carolyn Garland
Lee Ireland	Margaret Jones
Rupert McCarthy	Eric Mates
Social Committee
Chairman	Jean Bower
Vice-Chairman	Pam Johnston
Hon Secretary	Sheila Davies
Hon Treasurer	Barbara Adams
Committee members
Joan Rees-Jones	Helen Banton
Lee Ireland	Irene Nugent