The Deep Blue Sea (1952) is a stage play by
Terence Rattigan, first performed in
London, 6 March 1952, when it was praised by critics and audiences as evidence that Rattigan's view of life was growing deeper and more complex. It also won praise for actress
Peggy Ashcroft, who co-starred with
Kenneth More. Its
Broadway premiere on 5 November 1953, starring
Margaret Sullavan, was not nearly so well-received, and ran for only 132 performances. Later revivals have starred
Penelope Wilton,
Isabel Dean,
Penelope Keith,
Blythe Danner,
Harriet Walter, and
Greta Scacchi. 2011 saw two major British revivals to mark Rattigan's centenary, one at the
West Yorkshire Playhouse with
Maxine Peake as Hester and
Lex Shrapnel as Freddy. The other was at the
Chichester Festival Theatre with
Amanda Root as Hester alongside
Anthony Calf and
John Hopkins.