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NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
“By transforming a trial into a work of art, Milo Rau and Servane Dècle prove that theater can be a powerful vehicle for change.” – Viral Mag
ABOUT THE WORK
“Shame must change sides.” With these words, and her courageous decision to make her trial public, Gisèle Pelicot ignited an international reckoning in the fight to end violence against women. What began as the Mazan rape case, in a small town in southern France, revealed how ordinary men across ages and social backgrounds could commit an unthinkable crime, the repeated assault of an unconscious woman. This urgent evening of readings revisits examinations, pleas, and commentaries from the trial. Created by Servane Dècle and Milo Rau in collaboration with Pelicot’s lawyers, the court, psychological experts, legal commentators, witnesses, and feminist organizations, it confronts not only one case, but the global system of patriarchy itself.
Performed at Judson Memorial Church.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Milo Rau is a Swiss director, writer and filmmaker. Critics call Rau the “most influential” (Die Zeit), “most awarded” (Le Soir), “most interesting” (De Standaard), “most controversial” (La Repubblica), “most scandalous” (New York Times) or “most ambitious” (The Guardian) artist of our time. In projects like The Congo Tribunal, La Reprise, Orestes in Mosul, and The New Gospel or School of Resistance, Rau posits that theater does not have to be detached from society but that it is a necessary contribution to politics, culture, and society – a place to tell true stories that shape our society. After six years as artistic leader at NTGent, Rau was appointed as new curator of the Wiener Festwochen in Vienna. The 2024 season will be his first as curator. Rau remains on board at NTGent as house artist.
Servane Dècle is a performing arts graduate from Conservatoire de Nantes and a former civil engineer from UTC. She is an activist involved in diverse social movements in France and lives in the Zad-nddl commune for seven years. She has been working for several years as a dramaturge with Milo Rau, Simon Roth and Cie Supernovae. Dècle also works as an actress and writes her own plays, such as a monologue to be directed by Clara Hédouin.
NTGent (or Nederlands Toneel Gent) was founded in 1965 as the city theater of Ghent. As a city theater, NTGent wants to question, motivate and rouse a diverse audience. it does so by making and presenting high-profile productions and by mobilizing theatre for social debate. It presents its own theatre productions as well as guest productions, touring in Flanders, the Netherlands and internationally.
CREATIVE CREDITS
Research and dramaturgy Servane Dècle
Research and direction Milo Rau
Project dramaturgy Nastasia Griese
Special thanks to to Gisèle Pelicot’s lawyers Mr. Camus and Mr. Babonneau, the journalists Adèle Bossard (Ici Vaucluse), Jean-Philippe Deniau (Radio France), Britta Sandberg (Der Spiegel), Valérie Manteau, Marion Dubreuil, Lenaïg Bredoux (Mediapart), Le Monde, La Déferlante, 604.cafe, Tal Madesta, Charles Rojzman, Helene Devynck, psychiatric expert Laurent Layet, prosecutor Jean-François Mayet, lawyer Kabore, Caroline Darian, JC Lattes, feminists Justine Le Noac’h and Nellie (NousToustes 84), Jackie Wang, Neige Sinno, Lisa Giffon, la Ciivise, Morgan N. Lucas, Lola Lafon, Nicolas Hénin, Manon Garcia, Mathilde Levesque, Geoffroy de Lagasnerie, researchers Solenne Jouanneau, Aïcha Limbada, Guillaume Carnino, Baptiste Morizot, Camille Bègue, and Centre Norbert Elias (CNRS- Aix-Marseille Université – Avignon Université) : Dorothée Dussy, Lucille Florenza, Stéphanie Fonvielle, Riwanon Gouez, Mélanie Gourarier, Fatma Hamdoun, Laurence Hérault, Corentin Legras, Céline Lesourd, Perrine Lachenal, Michèle Salord-Lopez, Irène Seriau, Raphaël Perrin.
SUPPORT
This project is made possible in part with support from the General Delegation of the Government of Flanders to the USA.
NYU Skirball’s programs are made possible in part with support from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the Howard Gilman Foundation; Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels; Culture Ireland; The Shubert Foundation; Collins Building Services; General Delegation of the Government of Flanders to the USA; Goethe Institut New York with support from the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany; Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation; Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; New England Foundation for the Arts; Harkness Foundation for Dance; and Marta Heflin Foundation; as well as our valued donors through memberships, commissioning, and Allies for Arts Access Fund support.
