No longer booking

London Tide, based on Charles Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend, is now playing at the National Theatre in London.

Directed by award-winner Ian Rickson (Translations) and adapted by Ben Power (The Lehman Trilogy), London Tide has original songs by PJ Harvey.

This romantic and propulsive thriller is a hymn to the city of London and the river that runs through it, and sees the genius of Dickens meet the fierce musical imagination of acclaimed singer-songwriter PJ Harvey.

London Tide is playing in the Lyttelton theatre at the National Theatre from 10 April until 22 June 2024.

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?

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Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details


Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of London Tide?

Brandon Grace as Charley Hexam, Scott Karim as Bradley Headstone, Bella Maclean as Bella Wilfer, Tom Mothersdale as John Rokesmith, Ami Tredrea as Lizzie Hexam, Peter Wight as Noddy Boffin, Beth Alsbury as Lavinia Wilfer, Joe Armstrong as Roger Riderhood, Crystal Condie as Miss Potterson, Laura Cubitt as Nancy, Miya James in the Ensemble, Stephen Kennedy as Reg Wilfer, Joshua Lacey as Inspector Bucket, Penny Layden as Mary Wilfer, Eric Mok as understudy Charlie Hexam, Liam Prince-Donnelly in the Ensemble, Georgia Silver as understudy Bella Wilfer, Ellie-May Sheridan as Jenny Wren, Jonathan Dryden Taylor as Mr Cleaver, John Vernon as understudy Reg Wilfer/Noddy Boffin/Mortimer Lightwood, Jamael Westman as Eugene Wrayburn, Jake Wood as Gaffer Hexam and Rufus Wright as Mortimer Lightwood.

Who are the creative team of London Tide?

Directed by Ian Rickson, adapted by Ben Power based on Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

Original music by PJ Harvey and Ben Power, set and costume design by Bunny Christie, lighting design by Jack Knowles, music director Ian Ross, co-sound designers Tingying Dong and Christopher Shutt, movement director Anna Morrissey, video design by Hayley Egan, fight director Terry King, casting director Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, voice and dialect coach Simon Money, associate set designer Verity Sadler and staff director Yasmin Hafesji.


Important Notes

Content warning: This production contains: smoke and haze, mild language. Depictions of death, suffocation and drowning

Access performances: Captioned: Friday 14 June – 7pm; Audio described: 20 June – 7pm

Venue Information

National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre , Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PX

Nearest Tube or Train: Waterloo (Jubilee line, Northern line, Bakerloo line)

Nearest Buses: 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68, RV1

Directions

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Critics' reviews of London Tide

★★★★ "Spine-tingling songs from PJ Harvey elevate the National Theatre’s stark Dickens adaptation" - TimeOut

"An ambitious, timely and compelling piece" - Financial Times

"Rickson delivers it all" - The Stage

"Transfixing" - Telegraph


Frequently Asked Questions

London Tide is playing at the National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre in London
The running time of London Tide is 3 hours 10 minutes (including interval)
Yes, London Tide has matinee performances on the following days: Wednesday, Saturday
No, sorry, London Tide has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.