“The Wife of Willesden” Combines Kilburn’s Vibrance with Classic Tale in an Offbeat Celebration

Zadie Smith’s first foray into theatre, The Wife of Willesden, reinvents Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath for a contemporary Kilburn setting. With Clare Perkins delivering a dynamic performance as the audacious Alvita, the play celebrates the language, culture, and unapologetic femininity of Smith’s beloved Brent, created during its reign as London Borough of Culture.

Set in a transformed Kiln Theatre resembling a local pub, complete with a bar and stage tables, the play begins with a late-night lock-in. Landlady Polly invites patrons to share their stories during an open mic session. Tiring of men’s droning monologues, Alvita, dressed in a striking red dress and designer knockoffs, takes the spotlight. Her vivid tales explore female sovereignty, sexual freedom, and societal judgement.

The first two-thirds focus on Alvita’s prologue, where she recounts her five marriages with humour and candour, even addressing darker moments, like being gaslit by a younger husband. She blends modern slang with poetic rhythms, as when she rhymes “spirit” with “innit.” Alvita challenges the hypocrisy of moralists, evoking figures like Jesus and Nelson Mandela to defend her right to live boldly.

Smith shifts Chaucer’s tale to 18th-century Jamaica, invoking the legendary Queen Nanny. The play-within-a-play adds humour and music but disrupts Alvita’s prologue just as it risks becoming repetitive.

Perkins commands attention throughout, seamlessly moving between comedic and poignant moments. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, the production is lively and immersive, with a cast that draws the audience in through clever glances and wry humour. Though uneven and unconventional, The Wife of Willesden is a daring, energetic celebration of storytelling, identity, and reinvention.