Local talent returns to Suffolk with award-winning Titanic drama
Following an award-winning two year run at the Edinburgh Fringe, ‘Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story’ will play Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds in June 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, this show sheds light on the real working-class heroes forced to make unimaginable decisions during one of the most famous disasters in history.
It is performed solely by local talent, Charlie Sheepshanks, whose family moved to Suffolk in 2017. Charlie's grandfather, Struan, began his national service in Bury St Edmunds when he was 21 and later returned to the town with his family. Charlie's mother, Alice, has also performed at the Theatre Royal four times and is now chairman of the Theatre Royal fundraising committee.
Charlie read Anthropology at Bristol University before training at Drama Studio London, graduating in 2022 and winning the Terry Hands Award for Classical Acting. Recent theatre credits include tours of Little Women and Pride & Prejudice, and he has also recently finished wrapping his first feature film. He currently lives in London, but Suffolk remains his home, and he says he is looking forward to his homecoming performance at Theatre Royal.
‘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 and the power of the one-man performance.
“A spectacular piece of theatre.”
Audiences agree, with more than 70 reviews left on the EdFringe website in 2025, with 100% positive sentiment.
And alongside many five star critic reviews, it has also picked up six Fringe Theatre Awards, including ‘Best New Writing’ and ‘Best Lead Performance’.
The Titanic tragedy continues to fascinate people more than 100 years after the event, and the touring company are excited to bring Frederick Barrett’s incredible true story to new audiences, reframing the heroism of that fateful night through the tales that are often untold.
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.
Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story is at Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds on 3 June 2026.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE