Philip Rham, Simon Green & More Set for TITANIC at Southwark Playhouse, July 26-August 31

Casting is today announced for the European premiere of a new chamber version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Titanic. Directed by Thom Southerland and produced by Danielle Tarento, it will run for a 6-week season at Southwark Playhouse, from Friday 26 July - Saturday 31 August.

In the final hour of 14th April 1912 the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg and "the unsinkable ship" slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic disasters of the 20th Century. 1517 men, women and children lost their lives. Based on actual characters aboard the greatest ship in the world, Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel, Phantom) and Peter Stone's stunning musical focuses on their hopes and aspirations.

Philip Rham, who appeared in the same creative team's acclaimed production of the musical Parade at Southwark Playhouse, will play Titanic Captain E.?J.?Smith. Simon Green, who has just finished playing M. André in the UK tour of The Phantom of the Opera, is J.?Bruce Ismay, Director of the White?Star Line.
Greg Castiglioni, who was Paul in Company at Southwark Playhouse and Magaldi in Michael Grandage's West End production of Evita, is Thomas Andrews, the ship's architect. Celia Graham, who starred as Christine in both The Phantom of the Opera and its sequel, Love Never Dies, is 2nd Class passenger Alice Beane, from America.

The rest of the cast is: James Austen-Murray, Dominic Brewer, Scarlett Courtney, Matthew Crowe, Jonathan David Dudley, Grace Eccle, Oliver Hembrough, James Hume, Sion Lloyd, Claire Marlowe, Shane McDaid, Leo Miles, Nadim Naaman, Victoria Serra.

Director Thom Southerland was longlisted Best Newcomer in the 2011 Evening Standard Awards for Parade. He was named Best Director at the 2011 The Offies - Off West End Theatre Awards - for Me and Juliet at the Finborough. He directed Victor/Victoria, Mack & Mabel and Parade (Southwark Playhouse); Daisy Pulls It Off, Irving Berlin's Call Me Madam! (Upstairs At The Gatehouse); the European premiere of I Sing!, Divorce Me, Darling!, Annie Get Your Gun, The Pajama Game and sold-out all-male adaptations of Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore and The Mikado (Union); Noël and Gertie (Cockpit); the European premiere of The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Landor); and the European premiere of State Fair (Finbourough & transfer to Trafalgar Studios).

Titanic is produced by Danielle Tarento (winner Best Producer at the 2012 Offies). She also produced Victor/Victoria, Mack & Mabel, Parade and Company at Southwark Playhouse; Taboo (Brixton Clubhouse); The Pitchfork Disney (Arcola); Burlesque, Drowning on Dry Land (Jermyn Street); Noël and Gertie (Cockpit). She is co-founder of the Menier Chocolate Factory and co-produced all in-house shows 2004- 2006, including Sunday In The Park With George, which received a West End transfer and 5 Olivier awards.