''The Ocean at the End of the Lane'' is a 2019 play based on the 2013 novel of the same name by

Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon GaimanBorn as Neil Richard Gaiman, with "MacKinnon" added on the occasion of his marriage to Amanda Palmer. ; ( Neil Richard Gaiman; born 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, gr ...

and adapted for the stage by

Joel Horwood Joel Horwood is a British playwright. He has been a member of the Royal Court/BBC 50 scheme and has also been on attachment at Hampstead Theatre. His plays include ''I Caught Crabs in Walberswick'', ''Mikey the Pikey'', ''Food'', and ''I Hear ...

Production history

National Theatre, London (2019–2020)

The play made its world premiere in the

Dorfman Theatre The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. In ...

at the

National Theatre, London The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. In ...

with previews beginning on 3 December 2019 (opening night 11 December) running until 25 January 2020. The production is directed by Katy Rudd, set designed by Fly Davis, costume and puppet design by Samuel Wyer, movement direction by Steven Hoggett and composed by

Jherek Bischoff Jherek Brandon Bischoff (born September 11, 1979) is an American composer, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumental performer. He has released over a dozen studio albums as a solo artist and band member and has credits as a musician, arranger, p ...

The production received 3 nominations at the 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Play, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Josie Walker and won the award for Best Lighting for

Paule Constable Paule Constable is a British lighting designer. She won the 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2020 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Lighting Design. She was also a nominee for four further productions and for a 2007 Tony Award on Broadway. In 2011 she won t ...

West End (2021–2022)

Following the success at the National, the production was announced to transfer to the Duke of York's Theatre in

London's West End The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a district of Central London, west of the City of London and north of the River Thames, in which many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buil ...

in autumn 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic the transfer was postponed until 23 October 2021 and ran until 14 May 2022. Casting was announced on 13 September 2021.

UK and Ireland Tour (2022-2023)

The production is due to tour the UK and Ireland beginning at The Lowry, Salford on 12 December 2022 before touring until September 2023. Casting was announced on 12 October 2022.

Cast and characters

Reception

The play received five star reviews from The Telegraph, Sunday Times, WhatsOnStage, Gay Times and SFX Magazine.

Awards and nominations

Original London production

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ocean At The End Of The Lane Play 2019 plays Plays based on novels Adaptations of works by Neil Gaiman West End plays Fantasy theatre