Ensemble Theatre has set lift-off for Fly Girl, a new Australian comedy from Genevieve Hegney and Catherine Moore that explores pilot Deborah Lawrie’s battle to become Australia’s first female commercial airline pilot. The production will run for more than a month, from 17 October to 22 November 2025, at Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli.
Directed by Janine Watson, the show highlights the late 1970s aviation scene where women were confined to cabin service while cockpit careers remained out of reach. Cleo Meinck makes her Ensemble debut as part of a cast that includes Hegney and Moore, alongside Alex Kirwan and Emma Palmer.
The creative duo summarised their inspiration and the scope of Lawrie’s landmark case under the Sex Discrimination Act.
Over the last few years, we have had the privilege of getting to know Deb Lawrie. In the late 70’s, at just 25 years old, she withstood the most unbelievable pressure for more than 18 months to become the first person to win a case under the Sex Discrimination Act. Her win paved the way for all Australian working women… Fly Girl is the unbelievable, inspirational true story of this unassuming trailblazer and her fight against the indomitable founder of Ansett Airways, Reg Ansett.
Fly Girl positions itself as a lively, character-driven account of a history-making legal and cultural shift, balancing humour with the turbulence of a high-profile challenge to industry norms. Tickets are available to purchase via the Ensemble Theatre website.
