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The Wife of Willesden

The Wife of Willesden

North American Premiere
  • Feb 25, 2023 - Mar 17, 2023

  • Loeb Drama Center

  • Run Time: 95 minutes with no intermission

Recommended for grades 9+.

Recommended for grades 9+.

  • Run Time

    95 minutes with no intermission

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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

Listen to Pre-Show Audio Description

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.

Read the Program

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

Marcus Adolphy

Winston/​Mandela/​Black Jesus

Marcus Adolphy

Marcus Adolphy

Winston/​Mandela/​Black Jesus

Marcus Adolphy

Sophie Cartman

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

Sophie Cartman

Sophie Cartman

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

Sophie Cartman

Goerge Eggay

Pastor/​Eldridge

George Eggay

Goerge Eggay

Pastor/​Eldridge

George Eggay

Andrew Frame

Ian/​Socrates/​Bartosz

Andrew Frame

Andrew Frame

Ian/​Socrates/​Bartosz

Andrew Frame

Troy Glasgow

Darren/​Young Maroon

Troy Glasgow

Troy Glasgow

Darren/​Young Maroon

Troy Glasgow

Claudia Grant

Polly/​Sophie

Claudia Grant

Claudia Grant

Polly/​Sophie

Claudia Grant

Nikita Johal

Asma/​Kelly

Nikita Johal

Nikita Johal

Asma/​Kelly

Nikita Johal

Scott Miller

Ryan/​Colin

Scott Miller

Scott Miller

Ryan/​Colin

Scott Miller

Jessica Murrain

Author/​Zaire/​Queen Nanny

Jessica Murrain

Jessica Murrain

Author/​Zaire/​Queen Nanny

Jessica Murrain

Clare Perkins

Alvita, The Wife of Willesden

Clare Perkins

Clare Perkins

Alvita, The Wife of Willesden

Clare Perkins

Ellen Thomas

Aunty P/​Old Wife

Ellen Thomas

Ellen Thomas

Aunty P/​Old Wife

Ellen Thomas