The British horror film Saint Maud is to be adapted for the stage in a new production at Live theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne this autumn.
Rose Glass’s atmospheric debut feature, released to huge critical acclaim in 2020, starred Morfydd Clark as a troubled caregiver in Scarborough who develops a damaging obsession with her patient (Jennifer Ehle). The stage adaptation is by Jessica Andrews, whose novels include the award-winning Saltwater, and it will feature new music by Gazelle Twin.
Live theatre’s artistic director, Jack McNamara, said: “The film is astonishing and we are so honoured to be granted the world premiere rights. Jessica’s writing is among the most unique and powerful I have come across since moving to the north-east. She has a way with words that is almost alchemical, and so I could not think of a better person to bring this frightening story to life. And Gazelle Twin is one of my favourite musicians over the last few years, so to have her score this for us is just immense.”
Andrews added: “Rose Glass’s film is so compelling and visually arresting, and it’s very exciting to have the opportunity to bring Maud’s dark and troubling story to stage. My work is often centred on the body, and it is so enriching for me to think about this within the context of Saint Maud, and the physical staging of a play.”
Saint Maud will run from 10 October to 2 November. Live theatre also announced two other new plays on Monday. The Bounds by Stewart Pringle is set during a medieval football game in a Northumberland village. It opens in May and then runs at London’s Royal Court in July; it is in the first co-production between the two venues. Champion by Ishy Din, which will open in February next year, is set in 1977 during Muhammad Ali’s visit to South Shields and observes the effect of the boxer’s arrival on two mixed-race brothers.
McNamara said: “There are an awful lot of death knells being rung about the state of new writing at the moment. But as someone programming a new writing theatre I’m not seeing any decrease of ambition, ideas and energy. Times are tough, yes, but there are writers out there with big things to say and our job is to make sure they can keep saying them, unfiltered.”
