Maiden Voyage review – women’s round-the-world sailing musical runs aground

Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London Hollering songs, cartoonish characters and dire dialogue mar this well-intentioned true story of the first all-female crew to attempt the Whitbread ocean race This intrepid tale of a sailing team atop the high seas spumes with good intentions. It is an against-the-odds story of the first all-female crew to attempt an ocean race – the Round the World Whitbread race of 1989-1990 – even as a sexist press scoffs at them. Skipper, Tracy (based on Tracy Edwards, played by Chelsea Halfpenny), leads the eight-strong team, singing all the while. The production’s sails are raised in an opening scene featuring a projection of waves (good work by video designer Jack Baxter), the set itself the boat’s helm.