Chiara Atik’s new play, Poor Clare, now showing at the Orange Tree theatre in London, offers a witty and astute modernisation of the life of Saint Clare of Assisi. The production casts two Netflix stars, Arsema Thomas and Freddy Carter, in the lead roles, bringing a contemporary sensibility to the medieval story.
The play dramatises the conversion of Clare, an Italian noblewoman who renounced her wealth after meeting Francis of Assisi and founded an order devoted to strict poverty. Thomas delivers a sharp, straight-up performance as the kick-ass Clare, while Carter plays Francis as priggishly earnest. The script by Chiara Atik, which has won multiple American awards, blends modern language and attitude with medieval monasticism, creating a funny yet provocative examination of wealth and inequality.
Directed by Blanche McIntyre, the production features lean, clever writing with short, sharp scenes. The set design by Eleanor Bull is unfussy, featuring a bed, chair, and bare tiled floor, complemented by regal period costumes and warm, pointed lighting by Oliver Fenwick. Strong supporting performances from Anushka Chakravarti as Clare’s brattish sister Beatrice, and Liz Kettle and Jacoba Williams as gossiping lady’s maids, add depth to the narrative.
The play’s central themes resonate loudly today, drawing parallels between 13th-century poverty and modern inequality. Atik’s script doesn’t shy away from heavy-handed moments, such as a beggar asking for change, reinforcing the uncomfortable truth that the gulf between rich and poor remains unchanged. The ending leaves audiences prickled and impressed by Clare’s singular resolve, while also feeling awkwardly implicated in the ongoing issue of inequality.
