One fateful night in 1912, the maiden voyage of the so-called Ship of Dreams turned into a nightmare in the freezing waters of the north Atlantic.

In the 100 odd years since, the tale of the Titanic has been retold countless times and never been far from the headlines. A new chapter has even been added to the story in recent days after the ‘catastrophic implosion’ that ended the lives of everyone on board the doomed Titan submersible as it searched for the wreck of the ‘unsinkable ship’.

I was wondering before I hit the theatre how a tragedy so big as he Titanic sinking which killed so many people could be turned into an epic musical - but the cast got a standing ovation as the final curtain fell - and it was easy to see why.

My theatre buddy and I watched the heartbreaking events of the RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage on stage last night, and the show was indeed an epic journey for all who went along to opening night of the Titanic the Musical at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford.

If you were a fan of James Cameron’s blockbuster film, then you must go along to see the show, which is currently on its 10th anniversary tour.

Of course, the story is the same and there are familiarities with the movie, but watching it live on stage in front of your eyes was far more immersive and emotional than any film could be.

The production has stunning sets and real-life stories of the ordinary and not-so-ordinary people who boarded the Titanic on its voyage from Southampton to New York and theatre-goers and myself were on a voyage of emotion in the auditorium.

During the highly-anticipated journey, the so-called ‘unsinkable ship’ collided with an iceberg and 1,517 passengers and crew lost their lives.

This production, produced by Danielle Tarento, Steven M Levy and Vaughan Williams, shows the stories of passengers, from Third Class immigrants to millionaires who enjoy the luxury of First Class.

Their stories are told entirely through songs during the entire show and, during the first half, are full of joy and excitement at the prospect of reaching the United States to start new lives, but then you know what’s coming as the iceberg hits and the tragic event unfolds in front of your eyes.

It was an amazing rollercoaster of emotions for me and my theatre buddy and we were transfixed with the lives of those on board trying to stay alive.

In fact, I cried twice because I was so caught up in the drama of which ones would live and which ones would die.

It’s no wonder the original Broadway production received an impressive five Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score.

The show really does portray and remember the passengers who lost their lives and also gives the perspective of those who survived the tragedy.

The stunning ship onstage even sinks in front of your eyes, so the magic of the theatre really takes you on the journey and experiences of those on board.

If you are as fascinated as I am about the epic tale, then you should go along to see it. The acting is phenomenal, so is the music and the set, and even though the story is heartbreaking, I left the theatre feeling exhilarated at what I had just witnessed.

Titanic the Musical will be at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford until Saturday, July 1. You can book tickets online here.

You can also book tickets by calling 03433 100033.