The Wife of Willesden at Kiln Theatre, Kilburn
*Press invitation
What can I say. If you have read any of the reviews of Zadie Smith’s incredible adaptation of Chaucer’s 600 year old The Wife of Bath, then this rave will sure not come as a surprise.
The staging, to begin, is extraordinary. Robert Jones has designed the space at Kiln Theatre and transformed it from ‘theatre auditorium’ to pub, complete with audience members sitting at tables ‘cabaret’ style, with bottles clinking, a mouthy publican and an expectation that someone is about to yell ‘Get outa my pub!” The atmosphere is fizzy and you FEEL like you’ve arrived in a proper old local and you should probably order some jellied eels. actually.
Clare Perkins is a triumph as The Wife of Willesden – standing in the spotlight of the pub, regaling the punters with her saucy tales and filthy language (although – turns out that’s more Chaucer than Smith) and setting the room ablaze with her charisma and energy.
And the sheer brilliance of Zadie Smith is in every word and turn of phrase – she’s somehow managed to transpose Chaucer’s tale into the world of Willesden and make it relevant and feisty and funny and naughty… it’s brilliant.
I remember studying The Canterbury Tales at school and how they were written to give a voice to those whose voices weren’t heard and a platform to those with no power. And Zadie Smith has done the same in present day. In Willesden. In a pub. To those women, who are living and loving their lives and their freedoms.
Hats off, Zadie Smith. Now go and get yourself a ticket before it transfers to the US this Spring!
