Things I Know to be True: style

Play Overview

“Things I Know To Be True” is a play written by Andrew Bovell.
It’s a contemporary play, first performed in 2016.
Produced by the Frantic Assembly theatre company, it combines physical theatre with naturalistic family drama, driving meaning through both language and movement.
The plot is non-linear, the past and present interweaving to tell the story of one year in the life of the Price family.
This play examines the dynamics of family life, exploring relationships between siblings, and between parents and children.

Characters and Themes

Each member of the Price family is fully developed as a character with their own narrative and personal struggle.
Subject matters include familial love, identity, betrayal, growing older and the associated ageing of relationships and emotions.

Use of Language

The dialogue is realistic, poignant and powerful, often escalating to intense emotional climaxes.
The script contains poetic elements combined with everyday language.
Each scene ends with a monologue from one of the characters.

Visual and Aesthetic Elements

Emotion is heightened through the use of physical theatre, the body often conveying as much or more than the spoken lines.
Movement sequences are used to visually express the complex emotional landscape of the characters, often representing their interior worlds.
Moments of tension are heightened with effective lighting and music.

Setting and Symbolism

The integral use of a garden as a setting emphasises certain themes - growth, change, seasons and renewal.
Symbolism is used extensively in the play with objects (like roses) and settings (like the garden) holding broader meanings.

Always remember that in studying this play you are not only analysing the plot and characters, but also - the overall style including language, physicality and staging techniques (set and lights, sound and music etc.). Every element of the production has been carefully considered to strengthen the emotional impact, and it’s your job to interpret and critique these components.