Dora Versus Picasso

Original R&D performance 26th - 30th November 2019

Dora Maar - Claire-Monique Martin

Pablo Picasso - Kevin G. Drury

Marie-Therese Walter - Isobel Wood

Jaume Sabartes - Simon Chappell

Assia/Françoise Gillot - Samantha Gray

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Claire-Monique Martin - Co-Director, Adaptor, Producer

Emma Jesse - Co-Director & Co-Adaptor

Hadley Smith - Fight & Intimacy Director

Harriet Grainger - Composer

Rachel Kimber - Stage Manager

Anna Joseph - Prop Maker & Lighting Designer

Hannah Williams - Set Designer

Madeleine Gleeson - Scenic Team

Lois Fordham - Scenic Team

Sarah Chamberlain - Producing Assistant

Roberta Bernardelli - Production Assistant

Play Synopsis

Inspired by the book "Dora versus Picasso," this bold and intimate play delves into the complex and volatile relationship between artist Pablo Picasso and photographer Dora Maar. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Paris, the story explores themes of power, obsession, creativity, and identity. Through Dora’s perspective, the play reclaims a voice too often overshadowed, shedding light on the emotional toll and artistic erasure endured by women in the orbit of genius.

The first open performance to the public was in 2019 as a result of the R&D process. Unfortunately due to the pandemic the production could go forward. Now (2025), we are currently in pre-production for the professional run of the show, during which we are rebranding and enhancing the production to bring even more depth, clarity, and impact to this powerful story.