Joseph Phillipe Lemercier Laroche
An Original Stage Play
Written & Directed by Dr Carlette L Norwood
Sold out performances across the UK
An Extraordinary Life. An Untold Story.
A Legacy That Deserves to Be Remembered.
The Story
On 15 April 1912, RMS Titanic sank into the icy waters of the North Atlantic, claiming more than 1,500 lives. Among those who perished was Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche, a Haitian-born engineer travelling to a new life with his pregnant French wife, Juliette, and their two young daughters.
He is the only known Black passenger aboard Titanic. Yet despite the enduring fascination with the ship and its passengers, Laroche's remarkable life has remained largely absent from popular accounts of the disaster.
Laroche brings his story to the stage.
Set against the backdrop of early twentieth-century Europe, the production explores the life of an educated, ambitious Black man navigating a world shaped by racial prejudice, social expectations and the pursuit of opportunity. At its heart is a deeply human story of love, family, determination and the difficult decisions that ultimately placed the Laroche family aboard the world's most famous ocean liner.
Through compelling performances and intimate storytelling, Laroche invites audiences to encounter the Titanic tragedy from a perspective rarely represented in its theatrical and cinematic retellings.
From Forgotten History to the Stage
Written and directed by Dr Carlette Norwood, Laroche was born from a desire to bring greater visibility to a remarkable historical figure whose experiences challenge familiar narratives of the Titanic.
Drawing upon her background as a sociologist, historian of lived experience and theatrical storyteller, Norwood approaches the production through the intersection of historical research, racial identity and human relationships.
Rather than presenting Laroche simply as another victim of the disaster, the play explores the man behind the historical record: a husband, father, engineer and individual whose ambitions and experiences deserve recognition in their own right.
The result is a theatrical production that combines historical significance with emotional depth, offering audiences an opportunity to reconsider whose stories are remembered, whose are overlooked and why.
Sold-Out Performances
Since its premiere in 2024, Laroche has achieved sold-out performances, establishing an enthusiastic and growing audience for this compelling historical drama. The production's success has extended beyond Birmingham, including a highly successful presentation at the Museum of Liverpool in Autumn 2026, a city with a profound connection to Titanic's maritime history.
The Liverpool performance marked a particularly meaningful chapter in the production's journey. Following national media coverage of the play, a direct descendant of Joseph Laroche travelled from Berlin to attend the performance, creating an extraordinary connection between the historical family and the contemporary theatrical interpretation of their story.
It was a powerful reminder that Laroche is more than a theatrical production. It is an opportunity to reconnect people with a history that continues to resonate across generations.
The production has also generated interest in further performances and touring opportunities as its audience and reputation continue to grow.
A Director's Vision
For Dr Carlette Norwood, Laroche represents the meeting point of her academic interests and creative practice.
Her research into race, historical trauma and the experiences of Black people across different societies provides a distinctive foundation for the production's exploration of identity, belonging and racial prejudice.
Yet the play is equally concerned with the universal experiences that connect audiences to its characters: the desire to build a better life, the responsibilities of family, the experience of love and the uncertainty of an unfamiliar future.
The production places these human experiences at the centre of its storytelling, allowing the historical and social context to emerge through the lives of the characters rather than overshadow them.
Laroche is both an act of historical recognition and a celebration of the power of theatre to recover stories that might otherwise remain unheard.
Touring and Future Development
Following sold-out performances and growing interest in the production, Laroche is being developed for further theatrical presentations and touring opportunities.
The production is particularly suited to theatres, arts centres, cultural institutions, museums, heritage venues and organisations interested in historically significant storytelling.
Opportunities for partnerships, special presentations and facilitated post-performance discussions are welcomed.
The story also offers exciting possibilities for future screen development, extending its reach beyond the stage.
