Hilda

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Sian Phillips

Nick Haverson

Rachel Austin

Susan Roberts

Marie NDiaye

Sarah Woods

Drama on 4: Hilda

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Hilda

By Marie Ndiaye. An examination of modern day slavery, starring Sian Phillips.

Sian Phillips stars in Hilda, an examination of modern-day slavery by French-Senegalese writer Marie Ndiaye, dramatised by Sarah Woods.

Hilda is French-Senegalese novelist Marie Ndiaye's first drama, dramatised for radio by Sarah Woods . It examines modern domestic day slavery through a wealthy woman, Mrs Lemarchaud who becomes obsessed with the new nanny she employs. There's a creepy , almost unlikely edge to this piece, reminiscent of the films of David Lynch, but with absurdity, ideas of control and class are brought into greater relief.

Mrs. Lemarchand the mistress of the house , develops a relationship with Hilda's husband, first to glean more information about Hilda and her life, and , then to exert her increasingly irrational power over both of them Mrs. Lemarchand's control over Frank is constant, even when he starts to fight back . Money and class power through. 

It's unsettling highlighting the ramifications of class, power and control. Hilda is a stripped-down 3 hander, but it is full of ideas. It may be chilling and on the edge of the absurd, but there in lies its power.

Produced in Salford by Susan Roberts.

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