Award-winning Titanic drama debuts to Shropshire audiences as part of national tour

Following an award-winning two year run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story will mark its Shropshire at Ludlow Assembly Rooms debut as part of its national tour.

Boiler Room Six is a one-man historical drama, following the impossible true survival story of Titanic stoker Frederick Barrett. The production gives voice to one of the most devastating accounts of Titanic’s last few hours and immortalises the men who knowingly sacrificed their lives to keep the ship afloat for as long as possible.

Drawing on historical records and personal testimony, the show sheds light on the real working-class heroes forced to make unimaginable decisions during one of the most famous disasters in history.

Boiler Room Six premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024, selling out its debut run and winning ‘Best Overall Show of the Festival’ (Derek Awards). Since then, it has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim, with reviews frequently calling out the quality of the writing (“the script by Foreman is one of the best I’ve ever witnessed ” - Scottish Field) and the power of Charlie Sheepshanks’ one-man performance (“Sheepshanks was made for this role” - The Independent).

Audiences agree, with over 70 reviews left on the Ed Fringe website in 2025, with 100% positive sentiment (“We have seen some rubbish on the Fringe and we have seen some gems. By far this is the jewel in the crown” – David). During its current tour run, it has picked up six Fringe Theatre Awards, including Best New Writing and Best Lead Performance.

Tom Foreman Productions has a strong track record for creating critically acclaimed new writing.

The company debuted in 2021 at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre in London with the premiere of Big Boys (4 star, A Younger Theatre), followed by Swell’s premiere at the Fringe in 2022 (5 star, Theatre Weekly), which won the Carol Tambor Award. Alongside Boiler Room Six in 2024, the company also debuted Out of Woodstock (5 star, Culture Hub & Snack Mag), which was selected for a Mervyn Stutter Pick of the Fringe Award.

The company are excited to continue bringing Frederick Barrett’s incredible true story to new audiences, and reframing the heroism of that fateful night to those who stories are often untold.

Following the four month national tour, they will be returning to Edinburgh at the Pleasance for the 2026 Fringe Festival.

Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story will be performed at Ludlow Assembly Rooms at 7.30 pm on Saturday, 6 June 2026.