★★★★★

This review may contain spoilers

Poor Clare, written by Chiara Atik and directed by Blanche McIntyre, makes its European debut in none other than Richmond's Orange Tree Theatre.

Set in medieval Assisi but pulsing with relevance for the 21st century, Poor Clare is a witty and thoughtful reflection on the sharp divide between the rich and the poor.

The play feels especially poignant in a borough like Richmond, one of the wealthiest in London and in a city where there are approximately over 215,000 millionaires and 2.2 million people living in poverty.

Atik's script is beautifully constructed, blending laugh-out-loud humour with piercing social commentary.

She does not sermonise, but instead draws the audience in through the lens of Clare of Assisi, a young noblewoman grappling with faith, privilege, and the realities of the world.

Arsema Thomas is a star in the role of Clare. Captivating and composed, she captures Clare's youthful idealism and inner conflict with nuance and heart.

It's hard to believe this is her stage debut as Thomas commands the stage with confidence and emotional depth.

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Her chemistry with Freddy Carter, who plays the revolutionary Francis, is magnetic.

Anushka Chakravarti brought all the laughs as Clare's sister Beatrice (credit: Ellie Kurttz).

Carter's calm, poised and at times funny presence was fantastic, especially in scenes with Thomas.

I only wished we had more scenes of just Carter so that audiences can further dive into the mind of the determined Francis.  

Anushka Chakravarti provides much-needed comedic lift as Clare's sister Beatrice.

Her timing is impeccable, and her performance offers levity without detracting from the play's deeper message.

A standout moment came when Beatrice is surprised after a homeless person crawls out from under a bench: "You scared the sh*t out of me!"

The line drew laughter but also subtly underscored the discomfort society often feels in confronting poverty.

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Blanche McIntyre's direction makes smart use of the OT's intimate, in-the-round stage.

The physical closeness between performers and audience only heightens the play's themes, just as we in real life are never far from poverty, though we may choose to look away.

The production does not offer easy answers. Whether salvation lies in faith, charity, or radical renunciation, but it insists on the moral imperative to do something. Even the smallest act of recognition or kindness, it suggests, matters.

As Director Blanche McIntyre masterfully reminds us, these stories of medieval sainthood are far from ancient. They are now.

Poor Clare runs at the Orange Tree Theatre until 30 July. For more information or to book tickets, click here.

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