In 1905 New York, Esther is a skilled Black seamstress who makes fine lingerie for clients across the city, from wealthy Park Avenue women to workers in the Tenderloin. Quiet, independent, and saving carefully for her dream of opening a beauty salon, Esther is content — but still longs for love. When a letter arrives from George, a labourer working on the Panama Canal, she begins a cautious correspondence that opens her up to new possibilities. But as fantasy meets reality, Esther must reckon with her hopes, her choices, and the world around her.
Intimate Apparel is one of the most celebrated works by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. This new Donmar Warehouse production reunites Nottage with Lynette Linton, following their critically acclaimed collaborations on Sweat and Clyde’s.
Emmy Award-winning actress Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale, Orange is the New Black) stars as Esther. The cast also includes Nicola Hughes, Claudia Jolly, Kadiff Kirwan, Faith Omole, and Alex Waldmann.
