Little Ships: A new musical

Exeter theatre to host the premiere of a new UK musical

This June, the Exeter Barnfield Theatre will play host to the world stage premiere of new UK musical, “Little Ships”, written and composed by Danny McAvoy.

Little Ships celebrates history and adventure, and is about growing up, facing challenges, and taking risks, family love and fidelity.

Set in 1940, Little Ships is about a West Country family at the start of World War II. The father who was brought up in England, is of mixed Irish and French parentage and joins the French army, where he is part of the 1st Army that for a short time holds Lille enabling the British army to retreat to Dunkirk. The four children of the family, who have spent all their lives in, on and under the sea, join with some friends who together set out in their small boats to rescue their father and bring him home. Writer and composer Danny McAvoy, with his companies Unity Musicals and Purrple Cat CIC, aims to bring new and original musical theatre stories to engage and immerse audiences.

Of the creation of Little Ships, McAvoy writes:

Ten years ago, I inherited an old trunk full of various papers and other memorabilia - working through the contents I found myself absorbing more and more of the story that emerged. 

At the center of that story was a family not unlike the Geoghegans, a father who, like my own father, was part of the story of the Dunkirk evacuation. Growing up I had a brother and two sisters, not unlike the Geoghegans, and I had fond memories of times spent by the sea, not unlike the Geoghegans.

I started taking notes based on what emerged from that old trunk, organising the letters and other information into a timeline – the gaps I filled from within my imagination. 

One day, I realized that I had the outline of, potentially, an amazing story but I was not a writer. However, I did have a love of music and had written a good number of songs.

The people in my story who had emerged from that old chest lived within me as I wrote Little Ships over the following year or so. They surrounded me every day. And they remain an important part of who I am. 

In sharing them with you through this musical, in a sense I am inviting you to be part of my family and as you bring them to life in the wider world, to take care of them for me, for they are and always will be in my heart.”

Originally produced for the theatre, during 2020/21, the musical was adapted for radio and recorded with a professional cast. This serialised radio version of Little Ships was broadcast by radio stations in the UK and elsewhere to over 250,000 listeners for each of the five episodes. It now returns to the stage for its official UK premiere.

Little Ships runs on the 3rd of June at 2:30pm and 7:45pm. It is suitable for all ages.

Tickets are available through the Exeter Northcott theatre site: https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/little-ships/

Or phone the box office on 01392 72 63 63