Jessica Hepburn’s Great Adventure – an inspirational journey from sea to summit.

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’ – swim the English Channel, run the London Marathon, and summit Mount Everest. All fuelled by listening to every episode of her favourite radio programme Desert Island Discs.

To make each evening even more unique and unmissable, Jessica will be joined on stage by a different special guest each night – the incredible Polar Explorer, Ann Daniels, local Plymouth hero and triple amputee Mark Ormrod MBE, and world-renowned ballerina and broadcaster, Dame Darcey Bussell DBE.

Together, they’ll explore personal highs and lows – from their first adventures to the ones that went wrong, from the heart-pounding moments of their greatest journeys to the people they would most want as their adventure companions.

Join us for an extraordinary theatrical journey from sea to summit.

Special Guest on Thu 11 Sep

Ann Daniels is a world record holder and one of the first women in history to reach the North and South Poles as part of all women teams. With no previous outdoor experience and as a mother of young IVF triplets she beat off stiff competition to be selected for her first expedition. She is now described by The Daily Telegraph as one of the top 20 Great British Adventurers of all time and has been a Polar guide and leader of 4 major scientific Arctic surveys.

Ann is also a renowned international speaker who is regularly asked to talk on leadership, teamwork, motivation and overcoming challenges in an ever-changing world. She is a great believer in living life to the full and that a positive mental attitude makes a difference to the success of individuals and teams.

Special Guest on Fri 12 Sep

Mark Ormrod is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, coach, and former Royal Marine. Born and raised in Plymouth, he earned his Green-Beret at an early age and was soon posted to Afghanistan. On Christmas Eve 2007, whilst on duty, he was severely injured by an Improvised Explosive Device. Pronounced dead twice, he lost both legs and his right arm but went on to became the UK’s first triple amputee to survive on the battlefield.

Defying expectations, Mark made a remarkable recovery and walked again just 14 weeks later using his new prosthetic limbs. He was awarded the Operational Service Medal and later joined The Royal Marines Charity, helping grow its impact and online presence. Mark has supported thousands of people through his charitable work, particularly with the REORG charity which works with people who have serious physical injuries and PTSD. He has also competed in the Invictus Games and completed numerous endurance challenges for veteran causes, always promoting positivity, determination and resilience.

Special Guest on Sat 13 Sep

Dame Darcey Bussell DBE is the most famous British ballet dancer of her generation and was a Principal dancer at The Royal Ballet for almost 20 years. She then went onto become a successful broadcaster including a judge on the BBC’s flagship show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ for seven years.

Darcey is Chair of the Board of the Theatre Royal Plymouth and also President of the Royal Academy of Dance amongst many other patronages. She also coaches at The Royal Ballet and recently founded both the charity DD-MIX, whose primary aim is to have dance fitness incorporated into an expanded physical education in schools, and Move-Assure which is a movement based social prescription to aid mental health.