Interview: Edward Af Sillén, Edvin Törnblom, Linda Olsson och Martin Redhe Nordh of TITANIQUE at Börsen

Photo: Andreas Warme

Céline Dion takes over the Titanic—the internationally acclaimed musical comedy *Titaníque* premieres in Sweden at Börsen in Stockholm on January 15, 2027. The show promises *Titanic*, Céline Dion’s timeless hits, and delightfully wacky musical comedy; the prospects look excellent, given the team set to launch this production. Edvin Törnblom and Alma Bengtsson star as Jack and Rose, while Linda Olsson comes aboard as Céline Dion. Edward af Sillén is responsible for direction and translation.

Ahead of the ticket release on September 22, I had a chat with Edward af Sillén, Linda Olsson, Edvin Törnblom, and Martin Redhe Nord (who plays Ruth, Rose’s mother).

*Titaníque* is a relatively new musical; it was first sta017 and preged in Los Angeles in 2miered off-Broadway (or, as Edward put it, "off-off-off Broadway") at the Asylum Theatre in June 2022 as a "fun little project."

 Photo: Mats Bäcker

What is your connection to the musical?

Edvin explains that he, Edward, and Pål Ströbaek were in New York in 2022. "When you go to New York, you see musicals twice a day and take in everything you can. There was talk of a crazy musical featuring Celine Dion’s music—about the Titanic—playing in a small basement theater far away from Broadway. We went to see it, and it was the best thing I’ve ever seen—the best voices and the most fun imaginable. It was a privilege to see the original cast. That’s where the dream of being part of it was born. It was amazing to see something that good so early on."

Edward agrees: "I had no idea what I was going to see when I headed thirty blocks away from Broadway. I’d only heard rumors about it. But I laughed until I cried. It was something completely new—so silly and so good. I felt right then that I wanted to stage it in Sweden someday."

Linda hasn’t seen it on Broadway, but she saw it in the West End (where it has been running since 2025) with Kayo, who plays the Iceberg in the Swedish production. "It was so much fun, and it’s hard to explain exactly what it is; it’s a musical that has to be experienced."

Martin hasn’t had a chance to see the musical yet but is heading to London in October; however, he says he was completely captivated by the movie. "I was a teenager when the film came out. I fell head over heels for Rose and Jack. It was an epic movie. Little did I know then that one day I’d be playing Rose’s mother, Ruth." "But with the roles I’ve played recently, I’m now Ready to Play Ruth," Martin says with a laugh, adding, "It’s going to be so much fun to be part of it when it sails into Stockholm."

Edward, you’ve just had a smash-hit premiere in *Chicago*—a different kind of musical—so how are you gearing up for the more modern, zany *Titanique*?

"It’s been wonderful working on *Chicago*, and I’m still processing all the fantastic feedback," says Edward, continuing, "*Titanique* is more of a return to my roots. I started out as a scriptwriter for *Rea*, which played at Hamburger Börs, so it’s great to be back at 'Börsen.' I’ve always worked with humor in various ways—such as on *Mello* [Melodifestivalen] and with Pernilla Wahlgren’s shows, where the focus is on poking fun at oneself. A lot of that is present in *Titanique*. It’s also really exciting that we secured the rights so early on. It’s a huge vote of confidence to be one of the first countries outside the English-speaking world to stage it. We’ll keep the songs in English but perform the dialogue in Swedish. The dialogue will feature plenty of topical references that will evolve throughout the run of the show, so if you see it more than once, you might notice differences. It’s a show that pokes fun at *Titanic*, Celine Dion, and the performers themselves. It’s amazing that Celine granted the rights to her songs for this musical—and that we get to produce it."

Edvin also touches on the use of referential humor: "This is a musical packed with references; some will only be understood by the most die-hard nerds, but everyone will likely pick up on at least a few. It’s like *Mello*, where some jokes are aimed at kids and others at adults. There’s something for everyone, and it’s a special thrill when you spot one of those 'nerd jokes.'

*Titanique* will be the first musical staged at Börsen since its reopening; how does that feel?

"I was thrilled when I heard that 2entertain had stepped in to save Börsen as an entertainment venue. It’s a unique space in Stockholm. Nanette Hayes was the one who suggested Börsen, and it’s absolutely perfect because the show is meant to have a bit of an underground vibe," says Edward.

"Börsen actually looks a bit like a Baltic cruise ferry, and it’s going to create just the right kind of intimate atmosphere," says Linda, adding, "I haven’t performed there before, so it’ll be great to be able to say I’ve stood on that stage."

"It feels like we’re picking up the baton from the *Rea* troupe," says Martin. "Börsen will be perfect for breaking the fourth wall and inviting the audience to get more involved."

Edvin talks about walking past Börsen every day with his mother on her way to the Opera House, and how he used to want to go inside there to hang out instead of going to the Opera. "I rehearsed my last show there, and it was amazing to see all the photos of the legends who have performed there—Sinatra, Minnelli, After Dark, and so many others. There’s an incredible legacy embedded in the walls, and it’s going to be the perfect venue for a sing-along atmosphere."

Edward, you have a group of well-established musical theatre performers, but also Alma Bengtsson (Rose)—one of the new, young talents—and Edvin, who has never done a musical before; what is it like working with that mix?

"This is a fantastic group to work with. I saw Alma in *Dear Evan Hansen*, and it’s so much fun to bring in a young, new musical theatre artist who gets to work with an established cast and grow alongside them. As for Edvin, I was drawn to his humor early on when he was working with Fredrik and Filip. I remember thinking, 'Who is that super-talented guy behind them?' I worked with him when he hosted *Melodifestivalen*; we share the same sense of humor and know each other well."

Edvin, this is your musical theatre debut—how does it feel?

"Musicals are my absolute favorite genre. My mom is an opera singer, so I’ve always been around the opera world, and musicals are sort of like 'opera-light.' You get to express so many emotions in musicals—you cry and you laugh," says Edvin, continuing, "I dreamed of performing in musicals when I was a kid, so this is a real 'pinch-me' moment. I’m hard at work learning the songs and seeing a vocal coach, and it requires some physical training, too. It’s going to be so much fun to be part of an ensemble. I’m used to working solo, but I’m really looking forward to creating comedy together. I’ll be working with a group of absolute pros. We’re already having a great time."

How do you plan to shape your version of Jack, Edvin?

"You don’t really get to know Jack in the movie, and he isn’t exactly the most entertaining character. But in the musical, he’s supposed to be sassy—just more of everything. I’ve seen the show on Broadway, of course, but I’m going to create my own interpretation. Maybe I’ll start by playing him more like he is in the film and then let him evolve as the show progresses. Just imagine—I get to sing Celine Dion songs!"

Celine Dion is also a character in the musical; Linda, how did you get the role and how are you approaching it?

"Edward asked if I was interested, and then I made a recording that was sent to the creators, who had to approve me for the role. A few of us did that, and I got the part," Linda explains. "I’m going to watch various clips of Celine to observe her mannerisms. Aside from having an amazing voice, she also has a distinctive way of moving. I’m going to Paris to see one of her concerts. It’s also so much fun to take on another role portraying a woman my own age with a strong personality.

Then there’s the fact that it’s completely new for me to work on a musical that needs to stay constantly current—adapting to what’s happening in Sweden and the world, adding and removing things. I don’t know if we’ll have different versions or how it will play out. It feels both nerve-wracking and exciting. It’s a different kind of audience interaction."

Martin also highlights the fact that he isn’t used to working on a show that can change.

"I have a need for control, so it will be interesting to see how this works," he says.

This certainly sounds like a musical where anything can happen; what do you want the audience to take away from the show?

"I want them to have laughed a lot, to wonder a bit, 'What was that we just saw?', and to feel like it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever seen. I want them to experience the joy and Celine’s amazing music," says Linda.

"I hope people make a whole evening of it—having a nice dinner with friends beforehand," says Edvin, concluding with, "and that, after seeing the show, they feel they’ve had a really, really fun night—one they never want to end." Tickets for Titanique go on sale on September 22:

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