The Young Vic has announced it will present Milo Rau’s The Pelicot Rape Trial at County Hall in central London on 30 November. The production — created from courtroom testimony and written accounts of a notorious French trial — arrives in the capital after a European tour that has provoked intense discussion about how theatre treats real victims and public crimes.
From Mazan to London: a travelling documentary
The piece began life as part of the Festival d'Avignon and has been staged in cities across Europe with only a single performance at each location. According to the production material supplied by the Young Vic, the work is assembled from testimonies and court documents relating to the Pelicot trial, and is described by the company as "a profoundly affecting piece of documentary theatre" that "pays tribute to the ordinary woman who opened the way to change."
"It's about disentangling the story from the couple Gisèle and Dominique Pelicot – turning it into a story that belongs to all of us and at the same time to none of us."
The quote above is from Milo Rau, the Swiss director and playwright behind the work, who has framed the production as an exploration of collective responsibility and the public dimensions of the case.
What the Young Vic says and why the staging matters
The Young Vic’s statement describes the Pelicot trial as "undoubtedly the most publicised, discussed, and symbolic of our time," and frames the piece as both a document of the trial and a broader sociological study. The trial itself, held in France, found fifty men guilty of rape or sexual offences after a three-and-a-half-month hearing, according to the Young Vic’s materials.
Nadia Fall, the Young Vic’s artistic director and chief executive, characterised the production as "a piece of confronting event-theatre which bears witness to the harrowing story of Gisèle Pelicot." The company is taking the work beyond its usual theatre space and staging the London performance at County Hall to reach a wider audience.
Questions of ethics and impact
The transfer of real trial testimony to the stage raises ethical questions that have followed the production through its European tour. Supporters argue documentary theatre can illuminate the social context of crimes and amplify victims’ voices; critics warn of re-traumatisation and the risks of turning individual suffering into spectacle.
The Young Vic’s framing stresses testimony and written accounts from the trial rather than fictionalisation. Still, the decision to stage such material in a public event will reopen debates about how arts organisations balance artistic freedom with responsibility towards victims and audiences.
Event details and practical information
Key details released so far are summarised below. Audiences should check the Young Vic website for tickets and further information about access and content warnings.
- Performance: The Pelicot Rape Trial
- Director/playwright: Milo Rau
- Presenter: Young Vic Theatre
- Date: 30 November
- Venue: County Hall, London
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Source material | Testimonies and written accounts from the Pelicot trial |
| Verdict | 50 men found guilty of rape or sexual offences |
| Presentation | Single London performance by Young Vic at County Hall |
Context for London audiences
Documentary theatre has a long history in Britain of engaging the public with legal and social issues — from verbatim plays about inquiries to dramatizations of contemporary scandals. This staging sits within that tradition but will also test public appetite for confronting material presented in a civic setting.
For Londoners considering attendance, the Young Vic’s publicity suggests the performance aims to centre testimony and to provoke reflection about societal complicity. Anyone planning to see the work should look for content warnings, consider personal sensitivities, and note that this is presented as a serious account drawn from a real court process.
The decision to host the performance at County Hall — a prominent riverside building near Westminster — signals the company’s intention to bring the conversation about the Pelicot case into a civic and highly visible setting. Whether the London presentation will generate further public debate, or influence conversations about documentary theatre’s responsibilities, remains to be seen.
This report is based on information supplied by the Young Vic and public statements from Milo Rau and the theatre. For ticketing, access details and any content advisory, consult the Young Vic’s official channels.
