Jermyn Street Theatre and Reading Rep Theatre have announced the cast for Jean Genet's play The Maids.
This marks the first collaboration between the two theatres and Reading Rep Theatre's debut as a co-producer for a London production.
Directed by Annie Kershaw, the cast includes Anna Popplewell as Solange, Carla Harrison-Hodge as Mistress, and Charlie Oscar as Claire.
The play revolves around two sisters, Solange and Claire, who, while their wealthy mistress is away, engage in role-playing as mistress and maid in her opulent bedroom.
However, what starts as harmless fun quickly spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a shocking revelation.
The Maids, first performed in 1947, has shocked audiences for decades.
Inspired by the real-life murders committed by the Papin sisters, the play blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, leading to dramatic consequences.
The Jermyn Street Theatre stage will see this tale of rage and revenge for the first time in a co-production with Reading Rep.
Stella Powell-Jones, Artistic Director of Jermyn Street Theatre, expressed her excitement.
She said: "Having worked so closely with Annie during her time with us as Carne Deputy Director, I’ve known for a while that this production would be something special.
"I knew her forensic intelligence on text and her bold, uncluttered theatrical imagination would be such a good fit for Martin Crimp’s exquisite translation of The Maids.
"But now that she has assembled the most extraordinary cast, I’m even more impatient for rehearsals to begin."
Reading Rep Theatre's Artistic Director, Paul Stacey, also shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming production.
He said: "We are thrilled to have her [Annie Kershaw] at the helm of this new production and to be able to elevate Berkshire artists.
"We are also very excited for this new chapter of Reading Rep Theatre: The Maids marks the theatre’s first co-production with Jermyn Street Theatre, as well as Reading Rep Theatre’s London debut."
The Maids will kick off the Jermyn Street Theatre's Spring 2025 Season.
This will be followed by David Greig’s Outlying Islands, The Importance of Being Oscar, and the world premiere of Timberlake Wertenbaker’s adaptation of Little Brother.
The theatre also has two short runs planned for Lessons On Revolution and Chicken.
The Maids will be performed at Jermyn Street Theatre from January 9 to 22, 2025, with press performances on January 10 at 7.30pm.
It will then move to Reading Rep Theatre from January 28 to February 8. Tickets for The Maids at Jermyn Street Theatre are £22, with concessions available.
At Reading Rep Theatre, tickets start from £16.
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