Terence Rattigan’s devastating masterpiece contains one of the greatest female roles in contemporary drama.
Helen McCrory and director Carrie Cracknell reunite following the acclaimed Medea in 2014.
The Deep Blue Sea
by Terence Rattigan
Final Performance 21 Sep 2016
Running Time: 2 hours 30 mins inc 20 min interval
The Deep Blue Sea
A flat in Ladbroke Grove, West London. 1952.
When Hester Collyer is found by her neighbours in the aftermath of a failed suicide attempt, the story of her tempestuous affair with a former RAF pilot and the breakdown of her marriage to a High Court judge begins to emerge. With it comes a portrait of need, loneliness and long-repressed passion.
Behind the fragile veneer of post-war civility burns a brutal sense of loss and longing.
Get the playtext from the National Theatre bookshop.
Production gallery
Production gallery
Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith
The set, designed by Tom Scutt
Richard Hubert Smith
Adetomiwa Edun and Tom Burke
Richard Hubert Smith
Yolanda Kettle
Richard Hubert Smith
Marion Bailey, Helen McCrory and Hubert Burton
Richard Hubert Smith
Nick Fletcher and Hubert Burton
Richard Hubert Smith
Marion Bailey
Richard Hubert Smith
Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith
Tom Burke and Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith
Tom Burke
Richard Hubert Smith
Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith
the set designed by Tom Scutt
Richard Hubert Smith
Adetomiwa Edun
Richard Hubert Smith
Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith
Nick Fletcher and Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith
Helen McCrory on The Deep Blue Sea
The actor reflects on the challenges and rewards of playing Hester Collyer in The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan.
The Deep Blue Sea rehearsal gallery
The Deep Blue Sea rehearsal gallery
Helen McCrory and Peter Sullivan
Richard Hubert Smith
Yolanda Kettle
Richard Hubert Smith
The Deep Blue Sea Company
Richard Hubert Smith
Tom Burke
Richard Hubert Smith
Yolanda Kettle and Hubert Burton
Richard Hubert Smith
Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith
Hubert Burton
Richard Hubert Smith
Carrie Cracknell
Richard Hubert Smith
Tom Burke
Richard Hubert Smith
Tom Scutt and Rosemary McKenna
Richard Hubert Smith
Adetomiwa Edun
Richard Hubert Smith
Helen McCrory
Richard Hubert Smith