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 Wilhelmina was voiced by Dorothy Bart, with her songs performed by Mary Illing, adding musical warmth to the production.
The Waterman is a two‑act ballad opera by Charles Dibdin, first staged at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, on 8 August 1774. The story follows Tom Tug, a good‑natured waterman whose jealousy is stirred 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 hindered—by a lively cast of supporting characters. Blending 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.
