Clare Perkins to star in Zadie Smith’s ‘The Wife of Willesden’

The Wife of Willesden is Zadie Smith's debut play.

Clare Perkins will lead the cast of Zadie Smith's debut play, The Wife of Willesden, at the Kiln Theatre. The Wife of Willesden is at the Kiln Theatre from 11 November - 24 December. 

For The Wife of Willesden, the Kiln Theatre will be renovated to replicate the Sir Colin Campbell pub, where the story is set. Audiences will sit at pub tables in the stalls, a reimagining that will be "transporting Zadie's larger than life characters... It's going to be the perfect place... to spend a joyous, celebratory winter's evening with the fantastic Clare Perkins" said artistic director Indhu Rubasingham. 

The Wife of Willesden is an adaptation of Chaucer's The Wife of Bath, centering on Alvita. Alvita is known as the wife of Willesden, and will tell her life story to anyone who hears it. She'a local legend, but can she rewrite her tale? 

Clare Perkins will play Alvita. Recently, she starred in Emilia at the Vaudeville Theatre, and has also been in Welcome to Thebes at the National Theatre. The full cast is completed by Marcus Adolphy, Jessica Clark, Crystal Condie, George Eggay, Andrew Frame, Scott Miller, Hussina Raja, Theo Solomon and Ellen Thomas.

Indhu Rubasingham directs, with design by Robert Jones, lighting design by Guy Hoare, sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, costume design by Kinnetia Isidore and movement direction by Celise Hicks. 

The Wife of Willesden is at the Kiln Theatre from 11 November - 24 December.

^{Photo credit: Clare Perkins (Photo courtesy of Hamilton Hodell)}