TS Eliot’s life with wife explored at Kenilworth theatre

Michael Hastings’ Tom and Viv, running at the Talisman Theatre from Monday, examines TS Eliot’s doomed relationship with his first wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood.

The couple, played by Dave Crossfield and Julie Godfrey, met when he was a student at Oxford in 1915. But the whirlwind romance and hasty marriage were blighted by Viv’s physical and psychological instability.

The reality of the marriage ended 22 years later with her final committal in a mental institution.

Despite their problems Vivienne worked closely with Tom and was clearly a huge influence and inspiration in his early work.

As importantly, because, as an American, Eliot was a literary outsider in England, she gave him the social credibility to allow him to publish and promote himself with confidence.

The play picks apart this social ambition and steely resolve of Eliot, as well as highlighting the cruelty of the pre-war English class system and establishment in its treatment of a physically and mentally sick woman.

Directed by John Dawson, the show has been, the Talisman team say, “sumptuously” costumed by Chris Ward, run by stage manager June Bewick and had its set designed by Brian Tuck.

The show runs from tonight (Monday) until Saturday November 19 at 7:30pm each evening. Tickets cost £6 on Monday, £8 Tuesday to Thursday and £8.50 on Friday and Saturday. Call 856548.