The Maids
By Jean Genet, translated by Martin Crimp
By Jean Genet, translated by Martin Crimp
This masterpiece of self-conscious theatrical construction is at once hilarious and disturbing, cruel, and empathetic. Genet’s powerful work takes on a journey through the power structures that define our lives, from top to bottom. The master slave relationship, at the heart of so many of our interactions, is torn ruthlessly apart. In the light of our contemporary re-examination of power and institutions rocking the church, parliament, the police, and the patriarchy, this work stands out as a continual beacon, an inspiration and an age-old condemnation. The three women at the centre of this story are all struggling for an escape from the definitions of their lives, but so insidious are the rules that govern their existence, fantasy, delusion, and masks become their only means of coping with their intractable situation. Archipelago Productions has assembled a rich and diverse array of Tasmanian artists to collaborate on this large scale, enduring classic.
Jean Genet – Writer
Martin Crimp – Translation
Ben Winspear – Director
Takani Clark – Assistant Director
Justin Kurzel – Set/Costume Designer
Glenn Richards – Sound Composer
Jason James – Lighting Designer
Jen Cramer – Stage Manager
Jacqueline Collyer – Sound Assistant/Attachment
Photography Alastair Bett