Sea Change, a new musical by Birmingham-based writers Will Jackson and Elinor Peregrin, will receive its world premiere later this month at the Birmingham Hippodrome. The production is notable for its focus on Selkie folklore and its presentation by British Youth Music Theatre with a large local cast.

Sea Change will play at the Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio from 28 to 30 August. The musical is set in Blackwater Cove and centres on the Tidal Eclipse, a rare event when mythical Selkies are allowed a week on land among humans.

The show features a score rich in folk melodies, sea shanties and ballads, reflecting its coastal British setting. The cast includes 36 performers, with many young talents from Birmingham taking part.

The writers, Jackson and Peregrin, first met at the Hippodrome during BEAM2025, a showcase event promoting new writing. Their collaboration brings together modern and ancient elements, rewriting the myth of the Selkies and exploring the potential chaos if they came ashore in the present day.

The Birmingham Hippodrome houses the UK’s first in-house musical theatre department, supporting emerging talent and new productions such as Sea Change. The involvement of British Youth Music Theatre continues its tradition of nurturing young performers.

Jackson and Peregrin expressed enthusiasm about working with the young cast and creative team, highlighting the special significance of premiering their work in their home city.

Sea Change fits within a growing trend of new musicals drawing from regional folklore and youth ensembles to develop fresh theatrical stories.