Pelicot Trial play to feature Gisele Pelicot case accounts at London County Hall

A play titled The Pelicot Trial, which incorporates accounts from the Gisele Pelicot case, is scheduled for a performance at London County Hall on November 30. The production, created by Swiss director and playwright Milo Rau, will feature material drawn from the Gisele Pelicot trial, police files, social commentary, and psychiatric reports concerning the 51 men prosecuted.

The cast for the London performance includes notable figures such as comedian Rosie O’Donnell, Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh, Celebrity Traitors star Julie Hesmondhalgh, and EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite. The play is set to be performed by 30 actors and public figures as part of the Young Vic Theatre’s season finale.

Background to the Case

The Gisele Pelicot case involved her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He was convicted of drugging and raping Ms Pelicot, and of allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious. The abuse reportedly spanned nearly a decade. Gisele Pelicot, aged 73, has publicly stated that the shame should be directed at her abusers rather than herself.

The development of The Pelicot Trial involved collaboration with journalists and feminist organisations in France. The play previously premiered at the Vienna Festival and has since been performed in various international cities, including Avignon, New York, Lisbon, Milan, and Bergen. A different company has performed the production in each location.

Additional cast members announced for the London performance include Olivia Williams, Kadiff Kirwan, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Lorraine Ashbourne, Jordan Stephens, Leo Bill, Juliet Stevenson, and Samuel West. Further casting announcements are expected in the coming weeks. The November 30 performance at London County Hall will also be available via a worldwide live stream. Tickets are due to go on general sale on Wednesday.