Maiden Voyage at Southwark Playhouse Elephant – review

Fresh off the Lionesses’ latest victory – another Euros, another glass ceiling shattered – it seems only fitting that Maiden Voyage should sail onto the Southwark Playhouse Elephant stage, hoisting the flag for women who dared to dream big when the world told them to stay home and be homemakers. This new musical, inspired by the true story of the first all-female crew to sail around the world in the 1989 Whitbread race, arrives at a moment when women’s grit, grace, and gumption feel particularly triumphant.

Written by Mindi Dickstein (book and lyrics) and composed by Carmel Dean, Maiden Voyage is a warm, winsome show that, much like a Christmas film you rewatch every year, wraps you in warmth and goodwill. It’s comfort theatre: wholesome, heartening, and undeniably charming. The all-female cast is nothing short of formidable: full of vocal power and emotional precision.

Visually, the production punches well above its weight. Jack Baxter’s video design and Adam King’s lighting work in harmony to evoke ever-changing horizons with impressive economy. Whether conjuring calm seas or stormy nights, the backdrop feels atmospheric without overwhelming the space. The simple staging, a collection of rigging, ropes, and a ship’s wheel, proves that less can be more, delivering moments of visual poetry without the need for spectacle. The costumes, designed by Leanne Reid, are functional and uniform, true to the demands of a sailing crew, but it’s a shame there wasn’t more variation to reflect each character’s personality or journey.

The cast is undoubtedly the production’s secret weapon: vocally outstanding and emotionally sincere. There’s not a weak link among them, and under Lisa Mathieson’s choreography, the ensemble moves with such realism that you’d swear they had sea legs. The swaying, stomping, and balancing is so convincingly executed that it truly grounds the audience in the motion of the ship, bringing a palpable sense of life aboard.

There are, however, choppier waters. The script sometimes stalls in the doldrums. While the story is undeniably heartwarming, the dialogue can feel slow and lacking in dramatic tension. For audience members unfamiliar with the specifics of global sailing routes, it’s easy to lose track of the stakes or geography. The voyage’s structure could benefit from clearer exposition. The music, while uplifting, veers toward repetition, with little variation in tone or tempo, resulting in songs that blend rather than build – feeling like déjà vu at sea.

Still, there are lovely touches: giving the audience little flags to wave at each port of call is a stroke of genius, gently immersing us in the crew’s journey. And when they arrive in Australia to a sea of women cheering them on, it’s a moment of genuine emotional lift.

In all, Maiden Voyage is a buoyant tribute to resilience, even if the waters aren’t entirely smooth. But for all its rough edges, it’s a show that leaves you uplifted and cheering for more women to make waves.