The Firsts

Explorers have beards. Explorers know the way. Explorers are men. Right? But no! As the eccentric storyteller Perdita Polaris, who brings forgotten tales to light with a passion for discovery, Simone Neumayr delves into the extraordinary lives of four women from four centuries. The naturalist Jeanne Baret was the first woman to sail around the world in the 18th century – disguised as a man. The Viennese housewife Ida Pfeiffer gained late fame as a solo world traveler during the Biedermeier period. Valentina Tereshkova made the leap from a textile factory to space in 1963 as the first female cosmonaut, while polar explorer Felicity Aston crossed Antarctica solo in 2012 as the first woman to do so. The inspiring stories of these four women, who rise above themselves, are told by Henry Mason in his new children's play (for everyone aged 8 and up) through humorous, exciting, and poetic theatrical images. This sparks curiosity, encourages courage, and fuels the imagination.