The Wife of Willesden
By Zadie Smith
Year staged: 2021
Staged in: The Kiln Theatre, formerly The Tricycle Theatre
Cast Size: 10
Synopsis
A proper local legend. Married five times. Mother. Lover. Aunt. Friend. Alvita will tell her life story to anyone in the 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’s an epic poem. They call her The Wife of Willesden…
This play is suitable for key stages 4 and 5. Users can watch a recording of the play via the National Theatre Collection or by booking to come in to the National Theatre Archive.
Find the script
The Wife of Willesden
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton (Penguin)
Year published: 2021
Original Cast
Clare Perkins
Alvita
Marcus Adolphy
Winston / Mandela / Black Jesus
Jessica Clark
Polly / Sophie
Crystal Condie
Author / Zaire / Queen Nanny
George Eggay
Pastor / Eldridge
Andrew Frame
Ian / Socrates / Bartosz
Scott Miller
Ryan
Hussina Raja
Asma / Kelly
Theo Solomon
Darren / Young Maroon / Colin
Ellen Thomas
Aunty P / Old Wife
Production Team
Imogen Knight
Movement Director
Robert Jones
Designer
Indhu Rubasingham
Director
Guy Hoare
Lighting Designer
Kev McCurdy
Fight Director
Hazel Holder
Dialect Coach
Kinnetia Isidore
Costume Supervisor
Ben Ringham
Composition and Sound Design
Max Ringham
Composition and Sound Design
Rianna Azoro
Costume Supervisor
Zadie Smith
Playwright, Adaptor
Celise Hicks
Movement Director