This woman has desperately wanted a child and has been trying to convince her partner to have one with her and they have finally agreed. A great speech to really find the thought and drive intention. Frantic Assembly have pulled together an outstanding cast, who work together so seamlessly as an ensemble that it seems almost wrong to isolate individual performances. However, Imogen Stubbs dazzles as matriarch Fran, the epitome of the hardworking and multitasking mother, who understands her children with a look and who functions as the family lynchpin. As her children rebel and struggle, she fizzes with anger, constantly delivering cutting remarks that are all the more painful as we know they are motivated by soul-consuming love. Her dynamic with her eldest daughter, Pip (Natalie Casey), is particularly mesmerising, their interaction stinging with pent up bitterness. It’s that invitation that initially makes Things I Know to Be True feel familiar and relatable, as Rosie’s monologue rings true with many nineties kids who left school and took a gap year that was meant to act as a launching pad into university, but instead ending being a tumble into a directionless life. Despite its specific setting in the suburbs of Adelaide, all of the actors use their regional British accents, a strong reminder that the issues discussed do not belong to any one time or place. Families and the joys and trials that they bring resonate with all of us – we can all see something of ourselves and our parents in the scenes on stage. Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2022-07-05 03:08:45 Autocrop_version 0.0.14_books-20220331-0.2 Bookplateleaf 0002 Boxid IA40593318 Camera USB PTP Class Camera Collection_set printdisabled External-identifier

Drama Online - (This is such a great resource and many schools have subscriptions which means you don’t have to pay - ask your school if they have access - if not they can get a free trial as an institution so get on their case to apply for you!) The lighting is used to give a vastness to the stage and comprises a curved celling made up of 122 teardrop light bulbs which represent not only the bubble in which Bob exists but the romantic view he is has of the world and his family. Lighting designer Geoff Cobham states that ‘lighting will lead design’ and that having a less descriptive set design allowed him to use light to create a wide range of atmospheres in which the ‘actor is the brightest thing in the room.’ The design in the play was heavily influenced by American photographer Gregory Crewdson. The gum trees no longer protect our lives with shade or comfort. They no longer act as homes for the birds who would sit on their branches, calling out across the suburb to one another, acting as auditory buffers for our arguments or moment of bliss. And maybe, most devastatingly so, they no longer act as time markers for our lives where we can look at them and recall the day they were planted, some twenty years ago, and are able to reflect on all those moments where we didn’t realise we were living, but actually were. Billington, Michael (2016-09-18). "Things I Know to Be True review – Imogen Stubbs stars in fractured family portrait". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 2016-11-18. There is a real hope and urgency in this piece and Suzan-Lori Parks is one of the most influential playwrights of our time so even if you don’t choose this speech, you should definitely research her and read the play.I was immediately reminded of another cisgender WA writer, Craig Silvey, whose 2020 novel Honeybee received immense acclaim. After reading that well written but painful book, I was left to question just why cisgender writers are so drawn to stories about transitioning. Is it the drama of the reveal? Is it the notion that they might be able to play with the heightened emotions that a family may go through? Why is it that they can only see the drama and the pain, rather than the person at the centre of the joy or the anguish of coming out as trans?

That’s the world that Bob and Fran grew up in, the world where they knew they’d bought a home in Booragoon, a suburb that wasn’t the prime real estate of Applecross, nor was it the Homeswest housing of Brentwood. It was the land that invited the working class. Bob talks about paying off his home, creating an unknown nest egg for Fran and himself, while Fran’s job as a nurse has given her a longevity she may not have found elsewhere. If I were to make an educated guess, she would likely work at a private hospital, possibly St John of God Murdoch, a mere five-minute drive from Booragoon, making the ending of the play an even greater tragedy. An understated gem of a play… [its] searing honesty about family relationships stays with you long after the curtain falls' Radio Times Follow the schools rules on what they’re looking for (IE - no TV/film scripts, must be post-19XX etc)There is so much in Things I know to be true for students to connect with. There are fascinating characters that allow deep consideration, as well as a fantastic range of design opportunities that will encourage students to explore and write about this text in great detail. These are all personal faves selected by the small team here at TheLovieDiaries - where possible we have linked out to a free copy/youtube video of where to see the speech so you can get a feel for the writing before beginning. She had two daughters with her partner, Steve, but later reveals that she has fallen in love with another man whom she met at a conference in Vancouver, who is also married. She feels distanced from her mother as she always felt like she was the least favoured sibling, linked to the fact that her mother pulled her hair when she was fourteen. This appeals to me (as a slightly older person auditioning!) so much - not only is this play sensational (I URGE you to watch the NT version) but the feelings are just so raw! The monologue below is just one monologue to consider - there are SO many for ‘Her’ that I just say - watch the play and find a section that pulls your heart.

Try to find a speech that is engaging with someone rather than reflecting/telling a story as it's easier to lose intention of who you’re talking to and what you want from the other person with these types of speeches.I understand that after the play was first launched in 2016 that there has been extensive consultation from Bovell with the trans community to ensure that when theatre companies present this text that they’re doing so with care and consideration, however, the cruelty within these scenes and the unwavering love that Mia has for her parents defies that earnestness. At its core, Things I Know to Be True is still a transgender story written by a cisgender writer, reinforcing the notion of when a trans story is not a trans story at all. Beautiful and devastating… a powerful look at the coexistence of narcissism and unconditional love in family life' The Stage The Price family: parents Bob and Fran, and their four (almost) grown up children. Over the course of a year, we observe their relationships and watch as old wounds and new tensions are brought to the fore within the walls of their suburban home in South Australia.