New Musical about T.S. Eliot's Wife who Ended her Days in Harringay

Eliot's wife is now the subject of a new piece of musical theatre performed by a team led by Clare McCaldin. This morning Clare contacted me, asking permission to use my unique set of Northumberland House photos for pre-show publicity. Of course I said yes - and I thought some of you might be interested to learn about this interesting new performance with a local connection.

More from Clare:

Vivienne Haigh-Wood married TS Eliot against the wishes of her family. Their marriage was disastrous from the start, and dominated by her ill-health. It became clear that each had misread the other’s hopes and ambitions: Vivienne longed to escape the social conventions that Eliot enthusiastically embraced as he was elevated to the literary Establishment. However, their shared belief in his future as a poet held them together and their co-dependence provided rich creative inspiration even as their marriage was falling apart.

Eliot later wrote: “To her, the marriage brought no happiness. To me, it brought the state of mind out of which came The Waste Land.” Vivienne’s fears that Eliot’s success was taking him away from her put huge pressure on their relationship as her behaviour became more erratic.

Eliot was already considering a separation when he was offered a one-year fellowship at Harvard in 1932. On his return to London he was shielded from any contact with Vivienne by his Bloomsbury friends. Vivienne’s family arranged for her committal to an asylum. She remained there until her death in 1947. Eliot never visited her.

Vivienne is Vivienne's story told in a series of short scenes each containing a song, each based on templates provided by TS Eliot’s verse. There are hints of cabaret or music hall (a favourite of both Eliots), perhaps something seedier or grander, but always reflecting Vivienne’s state of mind. She wasn't mad - though she was ill - but became increasingly desperate when rejected by Tom and his Bloomsbury friends. She, too, was a talented writer. Did she deny her own gifts and potential to support a man whose work she believed in absolutely? Did this denial contribute to her final collapse?".

Performance details are here.