Your browser is unsupported and may have security vulnerabilities! Upgrade to a newer browser to experience this site in all it's glory.
Skip to main content

Hull Maritime recently attended a performance of Time and Tide: Songs and Sketches from Holderness, Hull and the Humber at urban farm Rooted in Hull. Time and Tide was created by Hull Community Theatre and the May Geslins with support from Round 3 of the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme.

Hull Community Theatre explains that audiences at Time and Tide performances can expect “a series of short scenes from lesser known stories of Holderness and Hull's maritime history, accompanied by folk songs and sea shanties. From the fourteenth century to the 1960s, see for example: smugglers in Hornsea, whaling in the Arctic, ferries on the Humber, and the dreaded press gangs.”

Hull Community Theatre and The May Geslins start their performance of Time and Tide
Hull Community present a short sketch about the women of Hessle Road
The May Geslins performing folk songs and sea shanties

Time and Tide was thoroughly entertaining, celebrating the rich tapestry of our maritime history. With plenty of folk songs, brilliant costumes and the chance to join in with some cheering and booing, Time and Tide is not to be missed! A highlight was the maritime memories which Hull Community Theatre had collected from local people and used to shape the performances. Quotes from these reminiscences were read out between sketches which was a lovely touch, and highly entertaining.

As well as watching scenes from Time and Tide, the afternoon included a talk from The Hull History Nerd on Hull’s maritime history as well as a sea shanty performance by the Hornsea Mermaids.

Rooted in Hull provided the perfect setting for these maritime tales, being a stones throw from the River Hull, with the Guildhall’s Time Ball visible on the horizon. More info.

Rooted in Hull with the Guildhall Timeball in the background
‘Canny Angler’ – a sculpture created by artist Hannah Van Green out of litter found along the river, funded in 2022 through Round 1 of the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme.

There’s still time to catch a performance of Time and Tide, dates and venues can be found here.

Find Out More

Hull Community Theatre.


Rooted in Hull.

The Hull History Nerd.