Poor Clare
So, first off, I’ll confess: I had limited knowledge of St Clare of Assisi. That said, if you’re interested, St Clare was a noblewoman who renounced her wealth to follow (Saint) Francis of Assisi. She founded the Poor Clares, a religious order devoted to poverty and prayer. Clare led a life of humility and devotion, becoming a powerful spiritual leader, and was canonised after her death. If you’d like to know more about her and Francis, I’d recommend picking up a copy of the programme, it’s a great read.
While you might think this is a very Catholic play, and yes, the overarching message leans that way, it translates more broadly to mankind as a whole. Interestingly, it doesn’t hammer the religious point home. It’s a play, not a crusade. I will note that there are one or two historical inaccuracies, but these are done for clarity, pacing, and character referencing; and honestly, they don’t detract from the experience.
The one-hour-forty-minute play runs straight through with no interval. It begins with Clare, a young, privileged noblewoman, meeting Francis, who has renounced his riches. This encounter stirs a sense of social injustice in her, sparking her personal transformation and family conflicts.
Set in medieval times, the costumes designed by Eleanor Bull are stunning. They are period-appropriate, full of rich detail like embroidery, headdresses, and coin purses. Hairstyles are a notable feature too, with some wonderfully intricate plaited designs.
In contrast to the setting, the voice and delivery adopt a modern, American, valley-girl-esque tone. Chiara Atik’s script draws comparisons to contestants on The Bachelor. This deliberate choice pulls the audience in straight away, though many of the nouns and situations remain rooted in their medieval origins.
Anushka Chakravarti, playing Clare’s younger, bratty sister Beatrice, is brilliant. Her over-the-top Americanisms and slang made me look forward to every one of her scenes.
Freddy Carter gives a lovely performance as Francis, entering with that iconic golden American golden M haircut and luxurious robes, eventually transforming into a fully committed friar. His journey is humorous but effective.
Arsema Thomas, who plays Clare, is on stage for every scene and gives a phenomenal performance. I don’t know if it’s the contrast between the costume and the modern language, but she seems utterly free in the role. It allows her to truly enjoy and embody the character, especially in scenes with Chakravarti.
There’s a clever moment as the play progresses when Clare gives to a The Poor played by George Ormerod, who appears in modern clothes, with a shopping trolley full of junk. I loved this flash of contemporary reality. It jolts the audience out of passive enjoyment and invites us to reflect on the ongoing relevance of poverty. Neither character acknowledges the time difference, and The Poor matter-of-factly lists what he needs; beeswax for candles and ointments. It’s a moment that really lingers.
The play is filled with humour: a surprise haircut reveal, rats, quails but mostly it’s the lively way the actors bring these characters to life. The two servants, Peppa and Alma (played by Liz Kettle and Jacoba Williams), are a joy to watch as they try to keep secrets and gossip about a naked man. There are a couple of moments that look ‘staged’ but performances in the round are notoriously hard to direct, it’s a testament that there were not more of these moments. I enjoyed this production so much that I bought a copy of the play from the theatre on the spot, it’s easy to see why this play has won so many awards.
That said, the ending returns us to modern times with a poignant monologue of global tragedies and mod cons. While thematically powerful, it did slightly deaden the celebratory atmosphere of the curtain call, and only a handful of audience members stood up for what was, without doubt, a fantastic performance.
This show was reviewed on the 16th July 2025 at the Orange Tree Theatre, London where it runs until the 9th August 2025. Full tour details here: Poor Clare - Orange Tree Theatre
You can watch our interview with Liz Kettle who plays Peppa in the show here: https://youtu.be/3R7p3sZ-MA4?si=p1eh-bnCh1IV0JO3
Review written by Valentine Gale-Sides
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Photo credit : Ellie Kurttz
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