The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Marat/Sade is shocking audiences so much that 80 people walked out on one night, in protest over scenes of rape and torture. However, as many have pointed out, what did they expect?
RSC’s Marat/Sade is set in a lunatic asylum in post-revolutionary France, and sees inmates staging a play, supposedly directed by the Marquis de Sade.
As would be expected – the Marquis de Sade was known for his works depicting violent sexual fantasy – the production contains strong material, including simulated sex acts, torture by Taser and a rape scene.
The RSC has admitted that roughly 30 people are leaving theatre each night but defended the play, saying that Marat/Sade “changed the face of British theatre when it premiered in 1964.”
The Company’s Artistic Director, Michael Boyd, said:
“It’s a controversial play because the subjects it explores – insanity, individuality, sexuality, the abuse of power, freedom versus control – are just as sensitive today as they were in the 1960s.”
The Telegraph has reported theatregoers reacting in horror to the play’s subject matter, with one calling it “the worst kind of filth”.
However, on Twitter, people take a more nuanced view, suggesting that audiences should have known what they were letting themselves into.
“What do people expect a production of Marat/Sade to contain? It’s not Terry & June ffs..” said one.
“Apparantly Marat Sade contains (shock horror! clutch your pearls and faint!) Sadism and is set in a lunatic asylum.. who’d have thought it?” another wrote.
While one person tweeted: “There ‘s nothing Middle England likes more than a bit of titillated outrage.”
The blurb on the RCS’s website reads: “Marat/Sade contains scenes of a sexually explicit nature some of which involve religious imagery and is not suitable for younger audiences.”
What do you think? Does the outrage make you want to go and see it?
