Production History
The play was first presented in Britain in French by the ICA, initially at the Mercury Theatre, Notting Hill Gate, London. Peter Zadek directed, while Eduardo Paolozzi provided the scenic design. Selma Vaz Dias played Solange, Olive Gregg played Claire, and Oriel Ross played Madame. The production subsequently transferred to the Royal Court Theatre, where Betty Stockfield played Madame and David de Bethel provided the scenic design. Zadek also directed the play's first production in Britain in English, which opened on 5 June 1956 at the New Lindsey Theatre Club. Selma Vaz Dias again played Solange and Betty Stockfield played Madame, while Hazel Penwarden played Claire. Nigel Whittaker designed the sets for that production.
Minos Volanakis directed the play at the Oxford Playhouse in 1963. This production was reprised in 1964 in a double-bill with Bertolt Brecht's The Exception and the Rule.
The play was revived at the Greenwich Theatre in 1973 with the actresses Vivien Merchant as Madame, Glenda Jackson as Solange and Susannah York as Claire. This production was filmed as part of the American Film Theatre series in 1974, directed by Christopher Miles and photographed by Douglas Slocombe.
In 2013, Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert will star in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of the play.
Read more about this topic: The Maids
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