Tickets on sale: Unique Titanic dining experience in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee tells story of final hours
Hotels in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee will be hosting the Queen of the Ocean, Titanic Dining Experience, a performance of interactive theatre which unfolds around you as you dine on the same dishes that were served up on that fateful night – April 14, 1912.
Picture the scene
As you enter the hotel’s dining room you are stepping aboard RMS Titanic as a wealthy passenger, on the maiden voyage of this magnificent ship, bound for New York.
Dressed in your finery, you are greeted by Captain Smith and attended to by three of the ship’s maids. Take a drink and mingle with the other passengers, marvel at the ship’s Morse Code machine (which later will be used to send a desperate SOS message), learn more about your fellow passengers – some of the richest and best connected people – whose names are to become part of history in an event which was unthinkable then and remains something of a mystery today.
You will take your time to savour a three course meal, with dishes selected from the Titanic’s original menu on that day. And as the evening progresses you will become surrounded by events which were to shock the world, as you relive the final 24 hours of this Ocean Class liner’s fatal voyage with actors playing out the story all around you.
The Queen of the Ocean
The performance by Histoire Productions, is the brainchild of Bobby Cole, who writes music for TV and Film. After becoming fascinated with the history of the Titanic he wrote and recorded a concept album based on the ‘unsinkable’ ship’s final hours – it included voiceovers and sound effects, and he planned to perform it live, with a meal to accompany it. The idea grew into this poignant theatre experience, which is a tragic and heartfelt tribute to the 1503 men, women and children who lost their lives.
“It’s a unique experience,” Bobby says. “It’s very respectfully and tastefully performed with the actors staying in character throughout the whole evening and interacting with the diners.”
What can you expect?
Guests can certainly expect a moving experience – and to take their part in bringing the story to life, singing a hymn that was sung at that morning’s church service on board, dining on barley soup, chicken Lyonnaise and Waldorf pudding which were all on that night’s 11-course menu for First Class passengers, seeing the Captain discover that the unthinkable was happening to the unsinkable and hearing ‘Nearer my God to Thee’, as the ship finally goes beneath the waves.
Throughout the night various stories and scenarios will be revealed, based on events which were recorded at the time or discovered since. You will be invited to dip your hand into a tank of water chilled to the temperature of the sea on that night and relive the moment when the ship’s commander realises the ship will be sunk in an hour and the nearest ship is four hours away.
There are large screens set up in the dining room which show the Titanic sinking in real time, which runs in conjunction with the story unfolding.
Where can I see it?
Histoire Productions are bringing the experience on tour in Scotland where it will be performed at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, Edinburgh; Gleddoch Golf and Spa Resort, Glasgow, and the Apex City Quay Hotel and Spa, Dundee on various dates between September 29 and October 8.
For tickets and more details visit the website