WHAT is it that every woman wants? That’s the central question posed by the Wife of Bath in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. It’s something that less-enlightened men think they instinctively know. It is also the framework for the Rude Mechanicals’ 2026 summer tour, The Wife.

Writer Pete Talbot, an MBE recipient in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to theatre, has cleverly incorporated other Chaucerian themes into the show, which came to the perfect amphitheatre bowl at Abbotsbury for another memorable evening of outdoor magic.

Last year, Matthew Nicholson joined the Rudes, and he returns as the romantic, lusty and then penitent knight Sir Roland in this story that explores so many of the problems between men and women – particularly relevant in these Atwoodian days and their tradwife revivals.

Evie James, a five-year veteran of the commedia dell’arte company, takes centre stage in the title role, with Holly Cassidy animating nine very different characters, often with gleeful Geraldine McEwanesque grandeur. The Rudes artistic director, composer and MD Rowan Talbot is a unique Ferryman, as well as various coarse characters and a doctor you REALLY wouldn’t want to get an appointment with. The other 11 characters in this riot of fun, grappling, moral rectitude and music are vigorously played by Maddie Hatt and Georgina Field.

An evening with The Rude Mechanicals is always a joy. They bring that perfect blend of originality and familiarity and their loyal and regular audiences never cease to be delighted by the fresh nuances that arrive with their favourite performers – and of course from the unpredictability of the weather, the wildlife and the open-air settings.

If anyone tells you Chaucer (1343-1400) is boring, go along to The Wife and you will know they are wrong – so wrong.

In July, you can see The Wife telling her tales at Bradford Abbas (2nd), Baltonsborough (3rd), Stourpaine (4th) Stogursey on 24th and at Child Okeford on 25th.

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