The Waterman was performed by the Hogarth Puppets in the 1960s, with Jan Bussell and Ann Hogarth supported by Violet Philpott and Ronnie Le Drew. The marionette Mrs Bundle was voiced by Daphne Riggs, with songs performed by Isobel Falkner. This production formed part of the company’s rich repertoire of literary and musical adaptations for the stage.
The Waterman is a two‑act ballad opera by Charles Dibdin, first staged at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, on 8 August 1774. The plot follows Tom Tug, a good‑natured waterman whose jealousy is sparked by the fear that his sweetheart, Wilhelmina, has been unfaithful during his time at sea. Much of the comedy arises from his misguided attempts to test her loyalty, aided—and occasionally obstructed, by a lively supporting cast. Combining spoken dialogue with Dibdin’s popular songs, the opera remained in the repertoire for nearly a century, sustained by the enduring appeal of Tom Tug and the accessibility of Dibdin’s melodic writing.
