As part of Belvoir's 25a initiative, Glitterbomb presents The Maids by Jean Genet, translated by Bernard Frechtmann.
In a luxurious apartment, two maids fantasise about murdering their Mistress, acting out the same elaborate ritual night after night. They can never quite make it to the grisly final scene - but tonight is different. As the boundaries between fantasy and reality begin to blur, a lifetime of oppression and brutality comes to a head in a shocking, unexpected climax.
Belvoir's inaugural Andrew Cameron Fellow Carissa Licciardello directs. "At its core, The Maids is a play about power, and the systems of power that keep people firmly in their places. From a contemporary perspective, and this particular cultural moment, it also becomes an unsettling insight into the corrosive effects of patriarchal exploitation, and an unveiling of the taboos of female anger and desire.
"It's dark, intense and sexy, but it's also an inherently subversive piece of theatre - a delicious challenge for a creative team and a dream play for actors. 25A is the perfect platform for us to experiment with the theatrical form and see just how far we can push it."
The Maids will bring together a company of some of Sydney's most exciting emerging artists. It features a talented cast of NIDA graduates - Skyler Ellis, Amanda McGregor, and Melbourne-based Alexandra Aldrich, recently nominated for Green Room Awards for her performance in The Moors and Rivers of China (Don't Look Away/Theatreworks). It also features the work of accomplished lighting designer Martin Kinnane, up-and-coming sound designer Ben Pierpoint and production designer Emma Vine, who made her Belvoir Upstairs Theatre as costume designer on The Sugar House.
The Maids is presented as part of Belvoir's new 25A initiative, giving an independent theatre platform to some of Sydney's most exciting emerging artists.
The Maids
Presented by Glitterbomb at 25A
Director Carissa Licciardello
Producer Kaytlin Petrarca
Production Designer Emma Vine
Lighting Designer Martin Kinnane
Sound Designer Ben Pierpoint
Stage Manager Bronte Schuftan
With Alexandra Aldrich, Skyler Ellis and Amanda McGregor.
SEASON
August 25th-September 15th
PERFORMANCES
Previews Sat 25th August 8.15pm, Sun 26th August 5.15pm, Tues 28th Aug 7pm
Opening Wed 29th August 7pm
Tues-Wed 6.45pm, Thurs-Sat 8.15pm
Final performance Sat 15th September
TICKETS
$20 Previews
$25 In-season
BOOKINGS www.belvoir.com.au/25a/themaids
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