A feat of storytelling! [Perkins] seizes the stage the same way Alvita seizes the power: fearlessly.
The Boston Globe
Glorious…Zadie Smith and Indhu Rubasingham have concocted a stunning piece of freewheeling stagecraft. Clare Perkins is magnificent.
The Times of London
A proper local legend, Alvita will tell her life story to anyone in the local West London pub—there’s no shame in her game. The question is: are you ready to hear it? Because this woman’s got the gift of the gab: she can rewrite mistakes into triumphs, turn pain into parables. And her love life? It’s an epic poem. They call her the Wife of Willesden. Join her for an evening that celebrates the human knack for telling elaborate tales, especially about our own lives. Winner of the 2022 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright, critically acclaimed and multi award-winning best-selling author Zadie Smith transforms an excerpt from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales into the unbelievable—and unforgettable.
This production includes strobe lighting, flashing lights, haze, slurs against women, sexually suggestive scenes, and representations of sexual and physical violence.
Adapted by Zadie Smith from Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath
Directed by Indhu Rubasingham
Presented in association with BAM
A Kiln Theatre Production
Notable dates
Opening Night: 3/2
ASL Interpreted: 3/12 at 2PM & 3/15 at 7:30PM
Audio Described: 3/11 at 2PM & 3/16 at 7:30PM
Open Captioned: 3/11 at 2PM & 3/16 at 7:30PM
Relaxed: 3/17 at 7:30PM
Production Sponsor
The Linda Hammett Ory & Andrew Ory Charitable Trust
Additional Production Support
Brenda and Kevin Jarrell
Ticket Offers
Rush
$30 rush tickets may be made available online, in person, and by phone the day of the performance, as inventory allows due to returns. Check back daily!
Standing Room
A very limited number of $25 standing room tickets will be sold in person and by phone for select sold-out performances on the day of each show, beginning at noon. Any standing room tickets available after in-person patrons have been assisted will be sold by phone. Limit 1 ticket per person.
All Discounts
Standard tickets start at $30, and discounts are available to students and ticket-buyers under the age of 25, Blue Star families, EBT card holders, seniors, Harvard faculty and staff, and others.
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Credits
Learn about the collaboration of artists who created the show, as well as the staff, supporters, and partners who made it possible.
Creative Team
Adapted by
Zadie Smith
Adapted from
Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath”
Directed by
Indhu Rubasingham
Designer
Robert Jones
Lighting Designer
Guy Hoare
Composers & Sound Designers
Ben and Max Ringham
Associate Director
Hannah Hauer-King
Associate Set Designer
Ben Davies
Associate Costume Designer
Kinnetia Isidore
Casting Director
Julia Horan CDG
Movement Director
Imogen Knight
Fight Director
Kev McCurdy
Voice & Dialect Coach
Hazel Holder
Wigs, Hair & Make-Up
Campbell Young Associated
Kiln-Mackintosh Resident Assistant Director
Jessica Mensah
Cast

Winston/Mandela/Black Jesus
Marcus Adolphy

Winston/Mandela/Black Jesus
Marcus Adolphy

Understudy for Alvita, the Wife of Willesden and Aunty P/Old Wife
Sophie Cartman

Understudy for Alvita, the Wife of Willesden and Aunty P/Old Wife
Sophie Cartman

Pastor/Eldridge
George Eggay

Pastor/Eldridge
George Eggay

Ian/Socrates/Bartosz
Andrew Frame

Ian/Socrates/Bartosz
Andrew Frame

Darren/Young Maroon
Troy Glasgow

Darren/Young Maroon
Troy Glasgow

Polly/Sophie
Claudia Grant

Polly/Sophie
Claudia Grant

Asma/Kelly
Nikita Johal

Asma/Kelly
Nikita Johal

Ryan/Colin
Scott Miller

Ryan/Colin
Scott Miller

Author/Zaire/Queen Nanny
Jessica Murrain

Author/Zaire/Queen Nanny
Jessica Murrain

Alvita, The Wife of Willesden
Clare Perkins

Alvita, The Wife of Willesden
Clare Perkins

Aunty P/Old Wife
Ellen Thomas

Aunty P/Old Wife