In 1912 the biggest ocean liner the world had ever seen, the RMS Titanic, set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, embarking on a journey that would change the lives of generations to follow. More than 1500 of its 2340 passengers and crew perished in the frozen water of the North Atlantic after the supposedly unsinkable ship struck an iceberg off Newfoundland – ripping a hole in the side of the pride of The White Star line and sinking in just eight hours.

To commemorate the centenary of the maiden voyage of the SS Titanic and the tragedy that followed The Berry Theatre in Hedge End is presenting a weekend of events with a local focus, shedding light on some of the stories and personalities from Eastleigh Borough involved in the dramatic history of the Titanic.

Titanic 2012 which runs from March 31 to April 3 will feature everything from drama and storytelling workshops for children, the chance to experience the music played during Titanic’s maiden voyage, a guided walking tour as well as a guided interactive theatre bus tour to a special screening of A Night To Remember and a Symposium – Unlocking The Past - bringing stories from surviving relative, historians authors and local specialists.

Highlights of the special weekend include A Journey Into The Ice! - an hour-long walking tour around the West End Titanic Trail (March 31) led by an expert from the Hamble Valley Heritage Guides.

The Titanic Show (March 31) is billed as a tribute to the musicians who played on to the end. Presented by classical string trio Pluck – classical musicians with a seriously silly side – the evening takes an amusing look at what may have happened to the orchestra as the ship went down.

Journey by bus through the Borough of Eastleigh and meet some of the local characters from the story of Titanic in All Aboard – an interactive theatre bus tour (April 1). Led by The Hamble Valley Heritage Guides in association with The Sarah Siddons Fans Club and The Point Youth Club, the tour will bring to life among others Captain Rostron, who steered his ship Carpathia through the ice fields to rescue more than 700 passengers from the Titanic; and Philip Curry, Manager of the White Star, who had to relay news of the disaster to distraught families.

Bringing the story of Titanic vividly to life will be a host of guest speakers at Titanic Symposium – Unlocking The Past (April 1). Chaired by head of culture at Eastleigh Borough Council Dr Cheryl Butler, the event will feature talks by specialist researcher Geoff Watts; Professor Tom James whose father was a curate given the task of comforting the bereaved; local historian and writer Mary South, whose grandfather, a steward on the ship, died in the tragedy; and local writer David Haisman who will tell the story of his mother, Titanic survivor Edith Haisman, who went on to become the world’s oldest living survivor when she reached 100 in 1997.

Step back to a bygone age with A Night To Remember (April 1), a special screening of the digitally-remastered version of the screen classic, starring Kenneth More, and described as “the greatest sea drama in living memory”. This intimate evening will also feature music from the repertoire played on the Titanic’s maiden voyage by The City of Southampton Titanic Quartet led by Ian Towson. To add to the atmosphere, guests are invited to attend in period costume.

For children, there’s a day of activities, storytelling and pop-up theatre based around Kaspar, the only cat to survive the sinking. These take place at The D@rt Centre on April 2.

For more details of events taking place in Titanic 2012 at The Berry Theatre in Hedge End, visit www.theberrytheatre.co.uk or call 01489 799 499.