Skip to main content

London Tide

based on Charles Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend
adapted by Ben Power
songs by PJ Harvey and Ben Power

Two women in thin white dresses stand in a river, soaking wet, one is pushing her hair back from her face. A low-lying city skyline and bridge are behind them in the distance.

Booking and details

It begins like this. With the dusk and the storm and the Thames…

A storm rages and, in the darkest part of the night, a body is pulled from the swirling Thames.

Across the city, two young women confront an uncertain future. In Limehouse, Lizzie Hexam struggles to break free of the river and its dark secrets. On the other side of town, Bella Wilfer mourns a lost marriage. The appearance of the mysterious John Rokesmith has the potential to change their lives for ever. Will they sink or swim?

This romantic and propulsive thriller is a hymn to the city and the river that runs through it. Directed by Ian Rickson (Translations) and adapted by Ben Power (The Lehman Trilogy), with original songs throughout, the genius of Dickens meets the fierce musical imagination of acclaimed singer-songwriter, PJ Harvey.

Performed 10 April — 22 June 2024 in the Lyttelton Theatre.

Suitability

Please note this production contains: smoke and haze, mild language. Depictions of death, suffocation and drowning

More advice and guidance

Supporters

This production is supported by the National Theatre’s Official Hotel Partner Edwardian Hotels, The Polonsky Foundation, Bill & Penny Bardel, Monica Gerard-Sharp & Ali Wambold, Lawton W Fitt & James I McLaren Foundation, Cockayne – Grants for the Arts, The London Community Foundation and The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater.

 

Videos

Play Video

Watch the trailer

Gallery

Cast

Production team

Adaptation and lyrics

Ben Power

Ben Power

Music and lyrics

PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey

Director

Ian Rickson

Ian Rickson

Set and Costume Designer

Bunny Christie

Bunny Christie

Lighting Designer

Jack Knowles

Jack Knowles

Music Director

Ian Ross

Ian Ross

Vocal Arrangements

PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey

Vocal Arrangements

Ian Ross

Ian Ross

Co-Sound Designer

Tingying Dong

Tingying Dong

Co-Sound Designer

Christopher Shutt

Christopher Shutt

Movement Director

Anna Morrissey

Anna Morrissey

Video Designer

Hayley Egan

Hayley Egan

Fight Director

Terry King

Terry King

Casting Director

Bryony Jarvis-Taylor

Bryony Jarvis-Taylor

Voice and Dialect Coach

Simon Money

Simon Money

Associate Set Designer

Verity Sadler

Verity Sadler

Deputy Music Director

Jon Gingell

Jon Gingell

Staff Director

Yasmin Hafesji

Yasmin Hafesji

Musicians

Piano and Guitars

Ian Ross

Ian Ross

Drum Kit

Alex Lupo

Keyboards

Sarah Anderson

 

 

Photo by Spencer Murphy