It is 1858 on a Virginian tobacco plantation. Deep in a forest, a young Black girl named Phoebe sits in the hollow of a tree, a notebook in her pocket and a harrowing choice ahead. Truth is adapted from the Governor General’s Award-winning novel The Gospel Truth and tells the story of a courageous 16-year-old, the arrival of a stranger from the north, and a trail of secrets that could change everything.
From the American South to St. Catharines, Ontario, Truth chronicles the fierce strength and resilience of a community as it struggles to find freedom.
Keywords: Black, Black History, Enslavement
First produced at Young People's Theatre, Toronto ON, February 2024
Genre: Drama, TYA, Theatre for Young Audiences
Run time: 70 minutes
Suitable for students 14+
Content notes: Contains stylized depiction of whipping, gun shot
Cast size: 7 actors
Male roles: 4
Female roles: 3
Casting Notes: Bea & Ruth are played by the same actor. The script requires 4 Black Actors and 3 White Actors.
"Truth is a must-see for children and parents wanting to learn more about the American Civil War and all the baggage it implies."
- Aisling Murphy, Intermission Magazine
"Though the piece is targeted to a younger audience, it doesn’t shy away from the more harsh realities of the time, and Truth’s ultimate message is one of hope."
- A View From The Box
"A moving piece of theatre about hope and tenacity in the face of despair and confinement."
- Lynn Slotkin, The Slotkin Letter