The Power of TRUTH: Patricia Cornelius’ New Play at the Malthouse

What happens when those in power fear the truth? What happens to those who refuse to stay silent?

With Truth, Patricia Cornelius brings a gripping and urgent new work to the Malthouse stage, exploring the cost of exposing secrets. Inspired by Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and other whistleblowers, Truth is a story of defiance, surveillance and the battle between transparency and control.

Few figures embody this struggle more than Assange. The Australian-born founder of WikiLeaks made global headlines in 2010 when his organisation published classified US military and diplomatic documents, exposing war crimes, mass surveillance, and corruption at the highest levels of government. One of the most damning releases was footage of a US helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed civilians, including two Reuters journalists, forcing a global reckoning with military accountability. Once praised as a champion of free speech, Assange became a hunted man, seeking asylum in London’s Ecuadorian embassy before his eventual imprisonment and ongoing legal battle against extradition to the United States.

Edward Snowden’s revelations about NSA surveillance exposed the extent to which governments were monitoring their own citizens. Chelsea Manning, a former US Army intelligence analyst, risked everything to reveal the brutal realities of war by leaking thousands of classified reports. Their actions, and the consequences they faced, form the backbone of Truth – a play that forces audiences to consider the high price of transparency in a world that demands silence.

Cornelius, known for Who’s Afraid of the Working Class? and Do Not Go Gentle, tackles these complex figures with her signature intensity. Directed by longtime collaborator Susie Dee, Truth is a politically charged production that doesn’t just recount history – it forces audiences to confront the way we treat those who expose uncomfortable realities. It does not mythologise its subjects. While Assange is central to the play’s exploration of whistleblowing, it does not shy away from the rape allegations that led to a Swedish investigation and global debate about his character. Truth compels audiences to grapple with the contradictions of a man who fought for transparency while remaining a deeply polarising figure. The ensemble cast of Truth brings its complex characters to life through a range of roles – Emily Havea, Tomáš Kantor, James O’Connell, Eva Rees, and Eva Seymour each portray multiple characters, using clever changes in costume and acting style to reflect the diverse figures they embody.

Enhancing its themes of surveillance and secrecy, Truth makes striking use of live camera feeds and screens, immersing audiences in a world where watching and being watched is inescapable. Real-time projections, glitch effects, and digital distortions mirror the flood of information (and misinformation) that defines the digital age. This fusion of theatre and technology isn’t just a stylistic choice – it’s a statement, pulling audiences into the psychological pressure faced by those under constant scrutiny.

A play like Truth could not be more urgent. Governments worldwide are tightening their grip on information, suppressing journalists, and expanding surveillance programs under the guise of national security. Whistleblowers continue to be silenced while those in power manipulate narratives to maintain control. As Assange fights extradition and journalists face increasing threats, Truth serves as both a warning and a call to action. It demands that we examine not just the whistleblowers, but ourselves – how we consume information, how we judge those who expose it, and whether we, too, are complicit in a system built on secrecy.

Are you ready to face the Truth?

Truth is now playing at the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne.

For tickets and more information, visit the Malthouse website.

Header photo by Pia Johnson