Lucian Msamati will lead the world premiere of A Wolf In Snakeskin Shoes at the Tricycle Theatre this autumn alongside his Olivier Award-winning The Amen Corner co-star Sharon D Clarke.
The pair will reunite for Marcus Gardley’s modern take on Molière’s Tartuffe at the Kilburn venue from 8 October to 14 November, with Msamati taking on the role of a dubious preacher touting his ability to heal the sick.
Set in a world of millionaires and mega-churches, Gardley’s “wicked new comedy” tells the story of a multi-millionaire given just days to live. Then in walks the flamboyant Archbishop Tardimus Toof (Msamati), a prophet, preacher and part-time masseur who promises to absolve Archibald’s sins and heal his disease. But his family suspect there’s more to this devout healer than faith, virtue and snakeskin shoes.
Msamati and Clarke were last seen on stage together in a very different religious drama, the National Theatre’s critically acclaimed The Amen Corner. This reunion sees Msamati return to the Tricycle following appearances in Walk Hard, Fabulation and Gem Of The Ocean, while West End regular Clarke will make her debut at the Off West End venue to play the – we’d hazard a guess, equally dodgy – Lady Toof.
Both boast incredible CVs that have rarely seen the pair off stage. Msamati, who is also a familiar face on screen with appearances in Game Of Thrones, Death In Paradise and No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, has led National Theatre productions of Death And The King’s Horseman, Mourning Becomes Electra and The Comedy Of Errors, and starred in the Royal Court’s hugely successful Clybourne Park and the Almeida Theatre’s recent Little Revolution.
In contrast, the majority of Holby City star Clarke’s credits come from West End musicals. The Olivier Award-winning star has appeared in many of London’s most popular productions including We Will Rock You, Chicago, The Lion King, Rent, Hairspray and Ghost The Musical. She can currently be seen back at the National Theatre where she is starring alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor in Everyman.
Joining the pair in A Wolf In Snakeskin Shoes’ cast are two Tricycle Theatre returners. National Theatre regular Adjoa Andoh (Or You Could Kiss Me, The Revenger’s Tragedy, His Dark Materials, Stuff Happens) returns following her appearance in Starstruck at the venue, while Clarke’s Holby City co-star Ayesha Antoine appeared in The House That Will Not Stand.
The cast is completed by Michelle Bonnard (Beasts And Beauties, Hampstead Theatre), Wil Johnson (Fuenteovejuna, National Theatre), Karl Queensborough (Morning, Lyric Hammersmith) and Angela Wynter, who appeared in The Amen Corner alongside Clarke.