A perfect production of a superb play

Donmar Warehouse

Lynette Lynton made her name as a director with her Donmar production of Lyn Nottage’s Sweat. She returns to the same venue and author with a revival of the modern classic Intimate Apparel. With the exception of LondonTheatre1, the critics loved everything about it- the dialogue, the acting (notably Samira Wiley), the direction and the story of a shy black seamstress, back in the 2020s, who lives through others’ romances until she falls for a pen pal.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

5 stars ★★★★★

David Jays for The Guardian explained: The acting is incredibly fine: Linton’s great gift is to see people from every angle….This tremendous production and Wiley’s superb performance fill out a life unknown.

WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Crompton declared: ‘Wiley…holds the heart of the play, and she does so with remarkable subtlety…a great portrayal in a truly entrancing play.’

LondonTheatre‘s Marianka Swain called it: ‘utterly gorgeous gem of a play…so rich and compelling that you become invested, heart and soul, in the fates of its characters’. She concluded: ‘The production is riveting in its intimate study of the minutiae of women’s lives, and in exploring what constitutes value, self-worth, acceptance, family, and love, with various threads neatly tied up in a powerful second half. This is a perfectly crafted show: not a stitch wasted.’ She included a tantalising promise: ‘The play also has the hottest scene I’ve seen this year, and it simply involves two people running their fingers over silky material.’

Fiona Mountford, writing for the Telegraph, described it as a ‘devastatingly fine production, headed by a remarkable leading performance from Samira Wiley’.

TheatreWeekly’s Greg Stewart delivered another high scoring review: ‘This is storytelling at its finest. Intimate Apparel is a beautifully woven triumph; Nottage’s script is rich with nuance and compassion, and the Donmar’s production honours it with grace and intelligence. The ensemble cast, under Linton’s sensitive guidance, delivers performances that are deeply felt and beautifully judged.’

4 stars ★★★★

‘it’s an irresistibly charming story’ said Holly O’Mahony for The Stage . She praised director Linton: ‘In her care, the narrative unfolds to reveal a rich tapestry, each patch of which is neatly sewn into the next.’

The Standard’s Nick Curtis found: ‘The play is very funny and in some ways romantic but ultimately grounded in harsh reality. Linton’s production serves the material, and the cast, extremely well. And she gets a revelatory performance out of Samira Wiley.’

Alexander Cohen at BroadwayWorld noted that the play ‘gorgeously weaves a lyrical tapestry of a metropolitan urban melting pot, shedding light on the resilience of immigrant communities, their collective endurance, and their support for one another. A lesser playwright would brashly capitalise ideas, but Nottage cherishes quiet humanity first and foremost.’

3 stars ★★★

Chris Omaweng of LondonTheatre1 couldn’t see what all the other critics were raving about: ‘In the closing scenes, the narrative strands are tied up too neatly, which would be more forgivable if this were a Disney musical. It’s also a pity that the storyline proceeds at such a sluggish pace – I had trouble maintaining interest’.

Critics’ average rating 4.4★

Intimate Apparel is at Donmar Warehouse until  9 August 2025. Buy tickets from the theatre here.

If you’ve seen Intimate Apparel at Donmar Warehouse, please add your review and rating below