Marat/Sade
The Persecution and Assassination of Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade
In post revolutionary France the inmates of an asylum present a play about the murder of Jean-Paul Marat under the direction of the notorious Marquis de Sade. As the director of the asylum and his family sit down expecting to see a patriotic display, they are confronted with a performance that is unruly, shocking and outspoken.
Peter Brook's 1964 controversial production of Marat/Sade, written by Peter Weiss, was part of the our Theatre of Cruelty season. It opened in London, then transferred to New York in 1965.
The play returned to the RSC in 2011, our 50th anniversary year. This new production was directed by RSC Literary Associate Anthony Neilson.
Arsher Ali played Marat, Jasper Britton the Marquis de Sade and Imogen Doel took the role of Charlotte Corday.