Arsema Thomas and Freddy Carter to star in Poor Clare at Orange Tree Theatre

Arsema Thomas and Freddy Carter will star in Poor Clare at the Orange Tree Theatre this summer.

Written by Chiara Atik and directed by Blanche McIntyre, the production opens on 16 July, following previews from 12 July, and runs until 9 August. This marks Thomas’s stage debut.

The production follows Clare, a wealthy young woman living in medieval Assisi. Her life takes a turn when she meets Francis, who challenges her worldview and introduces her to a radically different way of living. Poor Clare was the recipient of the 2022 American Theatre Critics Association’s New Play Award and also won Best New Play from the LA Drama Critics Circle.

It was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Atik’s previous plays include Five Times in One Night, Bump, and Women, a modern adaptation of Little Women. She is currently adapting Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet for Amblin.

McIntyre said today: “Chiara Atik’s Poor Clare is a sharp, funny, and moving play that speaks powerfully to the world we live in today. I’m thrilled with the ensemble we’re bringing together, and especially excited to welcome Arsema Thomas as she makes her stage debut, alongside the superb Freddy Carter. I can’t wait to see how this cast brings such a vibrant and thought-provoking text to life on stage.”

The creative team includes Eleanor Bull as set and costume designer, Oliver Fenwick as lighting designer and George Dennis as sound designer. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Priority booking opens on 14 May, with general booking from 23 May. Press night will be held on 16 July.