A sassy, offbeat comedy-drama about rebelling against your roots.

Rivka wants the perfect Orthodox wedding. With two weeks to go, she has the man, the dress – and the wig. But when doubt is cast on her wig, everything starts to unravel. Rivka finds herself far from home, up a tree and in the midst of an anti-road protest, not knowing whether she’ll be able to go back to where she came from… Or even if she wants to. 

Samantha Ellis' play Cling To Me Like Ivy was inspired by a chance remark by Victoria Beckham in 2004 which sparked a crisis within the Orthodox Jewish community about the wigs worn by married women.

The play was first performed at The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, in February 2010, followed by a UK tour.

'That genuinely rare beast, a popular comedy with heart, brains and the stomach to make some difficult choices'

Samantha Ellis grew up in the Iraqi Jewish community in London. She writes plays, TV, film and non-fiction books. Her plays include: How to Date a Feminist (Arcola Theatre, and productions all over the world); Cling to me Like Ivy (Birmingham Rep); Operation Magic Carpet (Polka) and I'm Still Burning (part of Jermyn Street Theatre's 15 Heroines). She has written plays for East 15 and LAMDA, as well as short plays for Menagerie Theatre, Agent 160 and The Miniaturists, and radio plays for the BBC. She has developed screen projects with Tall Story Pictures and Working Title, and worked on both Paddington films. She is also the author of non-fiction books How to be a Heroine and Take Courage. (Author photo by Jules Rogers)