The Maids

Glitterbomb presents The Maids in the Downstairs Theatre as part of the Belvoir’s 25A initiative. Based on the novel by Jean Genet and translated by Bernard Frechtmann, The Maids sees two maids fantasise about killing their mistress, acting it out each night over and over. One evening, fantasy becomes reality and the pair decide to enact their deadly plan.

“One of the things that make this play fun for creatives to do and audiences to see is that it is so many things in one,” said Carissa Licciardello, the director of The Maids. “It’s part-psychological thriller and part-revenge fantasy, and it’s extremely theatrical so it plays with the things that we know and love about the theatre in interesting ways.”

Featuring virtuosic performances from Skyler Ellis, Amanda McGregor, and Alexandra Aldrich, the play explores the damaging effect of the patriarchy and the destructive nature of power.

“To be doing the play now is to deal with the way women are surrounded by so many images of what they are supposed to be or aim for,” says Licciardello. “If you are young, beautiful, skinny, white and wealthy, you have access to a huge amount of power – but even then, you’re not the one ultimately holding the power.”

“That’s what these women are grappling with – trying to get it right for so long and the toll that it starts to take on you when you cannot get power by playing by societal rules.”

Until Sep 15. Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre, 25 Belvior St, Surry Hills. $25+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.belvoir.com.au

By Emily Shen