Press Contact: Megan Stone
August 2025
Theatre Royal Plymouth is proud to announce that Jessica Hepburn’s Great Adventure, a bold new production that celebrates one woman’s remarkable journey from heartbreak to heroism, is coming to the stage for the very first time. Written and performed by Jessica, the production will be directed by Sean Holmes who previously ran the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre with Jessica from 2009-2015, with associate support provided by Franny Rafferty, and scenography by Fi Russell. This is not just a performance – it’s a live, soul-stirring experience with a different special guest joining Jessica on stage each night.
Jessica Hepburn’s Great Adventure is playing at Theatre Royal Plymouth, in The Drum, from 11 – 13 September. Tickets are on sale now: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/jessica-hepburns-adventures/#book
Best known as the author of several compelling books about infertility, loss and the healing power of adventure, Hepburn has shared her struggles and triumphs on the page, and in talks. But this is the first time she brings her story to the stage in a blend of storytelling, music, and conversation as part of a singular evening of theatre that Jessica hopes will leave audiences moved and motivated.
Jessica Hepburn is an unlikely adventurer, and she wants to tell you her story in her own words – with music – because every great adventure needs a soundtrack!
Labelled the ‘arty’ not the ‘sporty’ one in school, she’s always been more at home treading the boards of a theatre, than scaling the slopes of a mountain. But in her mid-forties she started to adventure her way out of heartbreak becoming the first woman in the world to complete the ‘Sea, Street, Summit Challenge’ – swimming the English Channel, running the London Marathon, and summiting Mount Everest. All fuelled by listening to every episode of her favourite radio programme – Desert Island Discs.
This is the inspirational story of Jessica’s Great Adventure which transformed her into an activist for the power of adventure to change your life for the better.
To make each evening even more unique and unmissable, Jessica will be joined on stage by a different special guest each night – the incredible Ann Daniels, the Polar Explorer from Devon, who has been named as one of the 20 Great British Adventurers of all time (appearing Thursday 11 September); local Plymouth hero and triple amputee Mark Ormrod MBE (appearing Friday 12 September), and world-renowned ballerina and broadcaster, and Chair of the Board at TRP, Dame Darcey Bussell DBE (appearing Saturday 13 September). Together, they’ll explore personal highs and lows – from their first adventures to the adventures that went wrong, from the heart-pounding moments of their greatest adventures to the people they would most want as their adventure companions.
Jessica Hepburn, writer and performer, said:
“I never imagined my biggest heartbreak would lead me to the top of the world – literally. This show is about how adventure saved my life, and how it can help others too. I’m excited to bring my story to the stage with incredible guests who’ve had epic adventures of their own.”
Franny Rafferty, production associate and Senior Producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “Jessica’s story is extraordinary, but what makes this show truly unique is the intimacy and immediacy of hearing it told live – with music, humour, and honest reflection. It’s about the shared experience of live theatre and engaging in real life stories.”
Jessica Hepburn’s Great Adventure invites audiences on an unforgettable theatrical journey, from sea to summit, in a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and the human spirit.