A HAUNTING stage recreation of the world’s greatest maritime catastrophe – exactly 100 years to the moment when disaster struck – is to be staged by a Worcestershire drama group.

Minute by minute, the death throes of the doomed liner Titanic will be enacted using precisely the same time scale that it took for the ship to sink after hitting an iceberg just before midnight on April 14, 1912.

The newly formed One-Off Performance Society (OOPS) is aiming to mark the centenary of the tragedy with a special commemorative performance at the Swan Theatre, Worcester, of the Tony Award-winning show Titanic: The Musical.

This thrilling production, with an evocative musical score, will trace the dramatic story of both victims and survivors as the so-called unsinkable White Star ship plunged below the waves of the north Atlantic off Newfoundland with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

The news comes shortly after author Louise Patten – whose grandather Charles Lightoller survived Titanic – claims in a new book that the truth behind the disaster was that the ship was turned in the wrong direction.

Now theatregoers can step back in time and share the drama of that fateful night as more than 60 Titanic enthusiasts, gathered together under the OOPS banner, recreate the atmosphere and, ultimately, the tragic events that overwhelmed the world’s most luxurious liner and her 2,240 passengers.

The OOPS team has secured the rights to perform the musical, and chairman Steve Cook said the plan to perform the show on the 100th anniversary of the sinking in April, 2012 will be a tribute to all those who died in the disaster.

“Few people can fail to be moved by the story of the ill-fated liner. We’re just a group of actors, musicians and technicians so touched by what happened that we want to mark the anniversary with a one-off tribute to both victims and survivors,” said Steve, who chairs the OOPS steering group planning the ‘real-time’ 2012 production. “Titanic: The Musical is a fantastic show, and we aim to end the special anniversary performance at around the same time that Titanic struck the iceberg,” said Steve.

“The show will then run as close to real time as possible, following the human drama as it unfolds aboard the stricken vessel and culminating in the sinking.”

In the words of Walter Lord’s best-selling book about the Titanic disaster, the production promises to be a “night to remember” for theatregoers, and advance ticket bookings are already available by calling Tony Langford on 01905 425299.

OOPS, a charity organisation with a mission to bring arts and culture to a wider audience, is also keen to bring major backers onboard for the momentous run, with a major sponsorship package available to those keen to set sail with the cast.

OOPS trustee Phil Weston said: “The 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster is looming and is sure to be a major event in itself by April 2012, so I would urge sponsors, theatregoers and fellow Titanic enthusiasts to come forward now to book their place aboard this remarkable voyage.”

Titanic: The Musical will run for a week from April 10 to 14, 2012, with the Saturday late night special commemorative performance coinciding with the loss of the ship.

Before the show, theatregoers will be able to enjoy the flavours of an authentic Titanic menu, music from a Titanic dance band, champagne served by costumed stewards, an exhibition of Titanic memorabilia and an illustrated talk on the liner’s brief life.

Mr Weston said: “We would be very happy to come and meet you if you’d like to discuss the possibility of becoming a sponsor of the production, or if you’d like any further information, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

“If you’re not able to contribute towards the production, why not come along and watch the show and experience it for yourself?”