'She came out of the sea

Crawled out of the mud, quietly

Shy and beautiful, brushing off sand and shells'



England trembles in the grip of a devastating epidemic. But in a remote coastal village, quiet Derek waits for love and life to really begin. Then Lydia arrives. She burns brightly, beyond Derek’s wildest dreams. And she is hiding something.



When Derek discovers her secret, they are both propelled into a strange new world of conflicted desire and dangerous loyalties, where terrifying forces test their courage and humanity. But can love survive the fear inside?



Ben Musgrave's play Crushed Shells and Mud premiered at the Southwark Playhouse, London, in October 2015.