It was a glorious day in May 1911 when Titanic’s anchor first arrived into Belfast after its travels from Netherton, England.
The anchor was made by Hingley’s and transported by 20 shire horses through the streets of nearby Dudley on the start of its journey to Belfast. The anchor arrived on the Heysham boat and was pulled by another 16 shire horses through the streets of Belfast to the H&W shipyard.
Today, 100 years on, the cast of The Titanic Boys recreated this famous arrival and paid their respects to the men who build the world’s most famous ship. To celebrate the launch of this spectacular new musical, Martin Lynch and JJ Gilmour and their team transported a life-sized replica of the anchor, pulled by shire horses, from The Harbour Commissioner’s office, through Belfast City Centre, to the new Titanic Belfast, where, to the delight of the Belfast public, they performed a sneak preview of the show.
Waiting at Titanic Belfast to greet the anchor was East Belfast’s Sammy Wilson, Minister of Finance and Personnel, and relatives of the Guarantee Group – the nine Belfast men whose tragic story is documented by Lynch and Gilmour’s The Titanic Boys.
Two weeks before the Titanic was due to depart, designer Thomas Andrews selected four young apprentices to sail on the maiden voyage as part of the nine-strong Harland & Wolff Guarantee Group. They were to act as trouble-shooters, dealing with snags and problems and taking notes for improving the ship.
The Titanic Boys is the powerful true story of nine ordinary Belfast men who found themselves at the centre of an extraordinary world event. They knew the Titanic better than anybody else in the world. They built it. Sailed on it. And died on it. For the first time – this is their story.
With fantastic music and songs by JJ Gilmour (Dancing Shoes – The George Best Story) and Martin Lynch’s unerring accuracy for the Belfast character, this show is a roller coaster of highs and lows, featuring laugh-out-loud comedy alongside some of the most powerfully poignant scenes you’re ever likely to witness.
The World Premiere of a new Musical by Martin Lynch and JJ Gilmour: The Titanic Boys produced by GBL Productions will open on Wednesday, 8th August, (closing 25th August) 2012, at The Grand Opera House, Belfast.
Tickets for The Titanic Boys are selling fast. To book your tickets today, please contact The Grand Opera House Box Office on 028 90 241919 or log onto www.goh.co.uk.
A special thanks to Northern Ireland Tourist Board, The Europa Hotel, Titanic Belfast, Corry’s Timer Yard and White Star Momentos kindly Supporting The Titanic Boys.
With special thanks to George Fawcett of George Fawcett Carriages for providing the beautiful horses. For bookings visit www.georgefawcettcarriages.co.uk