OBSERVER: Truth at Malthouse


Malthouse Theatre presentsTruth by Patricia Cornelius.at the Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse, from February 13-March 8.
This latest work from the celebrated Australian playwright, sees Cornelius reunite with long time collaborator and Truth director Susie Dee, to create this groundbreaking new play that examines the precarious balance between truth and power.
Fusing real-life events with fictionalised commentary, the controversial figure of Julian Assange is presented through five different actors.
Each will embody a distinct facet of Assange’s persona, delving into his early years as a teenage hacker in Melbourne, his founding of WikiLeaks, and his nearly 14 years of confinement—spanning prison, embassy asylum, and house arrest— whilst grappling with the complex and divisive sexual assault allegations made against him.
Drawing on these key moments from Assange’s life, Cornelius and Dee have crafted a work as much about the man himself as the price of speaking the truth, and consequences of staying silent.
With Truth they deliver a timely and powerful exploration of modern activism and a sharp political reflection on the cost of defiance.
Performance Season: February 13 – March 8
Venue: Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse, 113 Sturt St., Southbank
Bookings: malthousetheatre.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold