A Class Act from Russell Lucas

Posted on 15th March 2025

The Titanic sank to the bottom of the ocean over a hundred years ago, and yet remains the subject of endless fascination. Books, films, documentaries, conspiracy theories and even a musical have all contributed towards turning a human tragedy into the stuff of myth and legend. While Third Class: A Titanic Story arguably adds to the list, its laudable intention is surely to reclaim that tragedy from the likes of James Cameron’s grotesque history-mangling blockbuster, or Maura Yeston’s dubious reimagining through the prism of musical theatre, by focusing on the particular to illustrate the general.

Edward Dorking survived the sinking of the Titanic by making his way from the bowels of the ship, leaping into the abyss and then swimming for half an hour before reaching a lifeboat. He went on to present his unique view of the disaster on the vaudeville stage – “I don’t know if the band played Abide with Me, I was busy at the time,” before ending his troubled life in prison. One might have expected Russell Lucas to simply re-enact Dorking’s stage show – it’s certainly what I geared myself up for – but what quickly emerged was something altogether more considered and reflective. Using the minimum of props and effective back projection the play is less about the disaster and more about the man who, tellingly, was so compromised by poverty that he was impressed by the meagre accommodation provided on board – “I’ve never had my own shelf”.

Dorking’s acerbic opinion of Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line and fellow survivor, is faithfully rendered, as is Dorking’s last card game, a fourth wall busting sing along, and even a modern day codicil, but the abiding impression Lucas leaves us with is of a man caught up in a disaster, frustrated that this should be forever the most interesting thing about him.