‘It’s ourselves and society on trial’: playwright adapts Gisèle Pelicot case for stage

Case that exposed France's rape culture and shocked the world has been made into play to be shown in Avignon, where trial was held

A stage play based on the trial of the men who drugged and raped Gisele Pelicot will be staged this week in the southern city of Avignon, as France continues to debate the lessons for society from the country's biggest ever rape trial.

The three-hour performance, The Pelicot Trial: Tribute to Gisele Pelicot, has been created by Milo Rau, the Swiss director and playwright acclaimed for his theatre interpretations of court proceedings, including the Moscow trial of the Russian punks Pussy Riot and the trial of the Romanian despot Nicolae Ceauescu.