Mark Cortale, Dale Franzen, Jonathan Murray and Harvey Reese, in association with Shared Experience, have announced full casting for the world première of Maiden Voyage.
The new musical will run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 19 July to 23 August, with a press night on Saturday 26 July at 7pm.
Directed by Tara Overfield Wilkinson, Maiden Voyage tells the extraordinary true story of Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female crew in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.
With book and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music by Carmel Dean, the production charts a thrilling journey of courage, determination, and breaking boundaries.
Chelsea Halfpenny stars as Tracy Edwards. Her previous stage credits include 9 to 5: The Musical, Waitress, and Beryl. On screen, she is known for roles in Emmerdale, Casualty, and The Good Ship Murder.
Joining her are Naomi Alade as Jo, Laura Tyrer as Pat, Shahaf Ifhar as King Hussein, Juliette Artigala as Michele/Tanja, Alex Bowen as Dawn Riley, Molly Cleere as Nancy, Sam DeFeo as Mandi, Olivia Hewitt-Jones as Marie Claude, Rowan Macpherson as Sally, Olivia Mitchell as Claire, Billy Roberts as Walter/Reporter/Navigator, and Daniel Robinson as Howard Reporter.
The creative team includes orchestrator Michael Starobin, musical director Simona Budd, set and costume designer Abby Clarke, lighting designer Megan Lucas, casting director Harry Blumenau, and associate director Kirsty Malpass.
“It’s 1990, and Tracy Edwards makes history by leading the first all-female sailing crew around the globe in the Whitbread Round the World Race,” reads the official synopsis.
“But how did a 20-something high-school dropout and galley cook end up being the skipper and navigator on such a ground-breaking race?”
“Was it a chance meeting with King Hussein of Jordan, who encouraged her to dare to try? Was it something that she needed to prove to herself or to her mother?”
“Or is there something else that makes a person do the unexpected and extraordinary?”
Maiden Voyage brings this inspiring story to life in a sweeping new musical that celebrates resilience, ambition, and the power of women working together.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
