Have you ever wondered how the magic of theatre happens? Or what happens backstage at your favourite West End productions? Welcome to Stage Door Secrets, the new series where we take you behind the scenes to reveal just a little bit of the magic that makes theatre come to life. This week, we’re getting a peek behind the iceberg with the cast of Titanique the Musical, the splash hit musical comedy featuring the repertoire of Céline Dion.
We’re heading backstage with the cast of Titanique the Musical to find out the secrets of the production beyond what you see on stage. Peek backstage as the cast gets mic’d up, see how the follow spots work, and discover what a freezer has to do with a certain steerage scene… Cast member Lewis Francis, who stars as the Iceberg, took us backstage as he and his fellow cast spilled some behind the scenes secrets of the production.
The hit musical, which has taken both Broadway and the West End by storm, begins when Céline Dion decides to hijack a Titanic Museum tour and enchants the audience with her totally wild take, reimagining the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalogue. Featuring favourites like ‘All by Myself’ and To Love You More,’ and of course, ‘My Heart Will Go On, ‘ Titanique answers the question of what really happened aboard the ship of dreams, with Dion herself along for the ride.
See live availability for Titanique here
Secret #1: The Diva Earpiece
What diva wouldn’t want their very own sound system? Actress Astrid Harris, who stars as the Queen of Power Ballads herself, Céline Dion, revealed that she performs the show with her own IEM (in-ear monitor), so she can ‘screlt to the high heavens’ without worrying about anyone else’s track. In most musicals in the West End, the actors will have headset mics that are hidden in their hair or over their ears, but it varies.
In-ear monitors are more common for musical artists to use at a concert. In this case, they feed a private, customized mix of the orchestra, backing vocals, and the Astrid’s own voice directly into her ear, so she can hit those big notes with confidence regardless of what’s happening elsewhere on stage.
We love it, diva.
Secret #2: The Freezer Trick Behind Titanic’s Steamiest Moment
We all remember that steerage scene from the film that featured a certain handprint pressed against the steaming glass… but how do they recreate that for the show? Cast member Joi, who is a Background Vocalist in the production spilled the beans with one word: ‘Freezer!’
Reimagined for laughs on stage, the production uses a prop handheld screen to recreate the effect live. It’s chilled in a freezer before each performance, allowing the condensation and the handprint gag to happen for real in front of the audience each night.
Next time we watch the show, we’ll be keeping out for that moment!
Secret #3: Inside the Lighting Control Room
Mia from the Electrics department took us backstage to reveal the control room, where the show’s entire lighting design is operated. At the lighting operator’s desk, the crew can fire each pre-programmed lighting cue throughout the show, watching on a monitor to make sure everything has gone to plan.
For most West End productions, a show’s entire lighting design is built and saved in advance, but operated live, night after night. Mia also noted that while they do watch the show through a video monitor, there is a tiny little window where they can get a live peek at the stage if they need.
Secret #4: A Wig for Every Head (Including a Very Blue One)
The backstage tour continued as company member Finton Flynn took us to the wig corner, where the all of the wigs used in the show are kept. Among the collection, there are a set of wigs dyed a distinct shade of light blue, for the iceberg, but you’ll have to see the show to figure that one out!
Wigs are a fixture of nearly every large-scale musical (and even some small-scale), where dozens of wig heads sit lined up by cast member, style, and scene. Wigs are great for allowing quick changes, protecting performers’ natural hair and letting actors transform between roles in seconds.
Secret #5: Inside the Sound Desk
Tucked away behind the stage is the mixing desk where the musical really comes together. The mixing desk is where the cast’s mics are controlled, so ‘the volumes go up when the voices go up,’ as Flynn shared.
The entire show’s audio runs through the mixing desk, and it’s a job that requires constant attention throughout the performance. The desk shows each cast member alongside their mic levels, so they can instantly identify and adjust each performer’s volume, rising and falling in real time with their vocal dynamics.
Secret #6: The Follow Spot Operators Sit in the Upper Circle
Tucked away on the Upper Circle is the follow spot operator’s post, hidden from the audience’s view by a curtain. This where a spot op will work from a cue sheet to control the spotlight’s size and movement in real time. Think of it like ‘playing a little video game where you’re trying to catch the actors,’ as Mia explained to us.
A follow spot is a manually aimed light used to track a principal performer around the stage, keeping them lit regardless of blocking. Titanique uses the RoboSpot system, a remote-operated rig that lets an operator control a robotic spotlight fixture to adjust its size, brightness, and position. Next time you’re in the Upper Circle, say hello to the follow spot ops!
Secret #7: The Quick Change Nobody Sees
We never met a quick change we didn’t like! Lewis Francis gave us a little insight into his quick change from sailor to Tina Turner, who makes a surprise appearance in the musical. Tucked away under his White Star Line costume was a silver sparkly number, ready for his quick change. His jacket and shirt also featured snaps so they could come apart easily.
Quick changes are one of musical theatre’s great feats of choreography, and plenty of shows have a quick change or two, requiring an actor to swap an entire costume, wig, and shoes in under a minute. Don’t worry, they frequently have a dedicated backstage dresser waiting in the wings to help out. Some productions also have a specially built quick-change booth just offstage.
Who knew!
Watch the full episode of Stage Door Secrets here
Plan your visit to Titanique
- Venue: Criterion Theatre
- Booking dates: until 3 January 2027
- Running time: 125 minutes (including interval)
- Age guidelines: 14+
Criterion Theatre, London
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