THE TRIALS
by DAWN KING
Canberra Youth Theatre
Canberra Theatre Centre 2023
Director Luke Rogers
Assistant Director Emily Austin
Lighting Designer Ethan Hamill
Sound Designer Patrick Haesler
Stage Manager Rhiley Winnett
Cast
Aadhya Karthik
Alexi Clark Mitchell
Edith Baggoley
Genevieve Bradley
Imogen Bigsby-Chamberlin
Jacqueline Tatam
Joshua James
Kathleen Dunkerley
Matthew Hogan
Phoebe Silberman
Sebastian Leigh
Tara Saxena
with
Elaine Noon
Zsuzsi Soboslay
Michael Sparks
Photography Ben Appleton
Australian Premiere
It’s easy for you to accuse me now but you don’t understand. Everyone lived like we did! Well maybe not ‘everyone’, everyone. But… I wasn’t worse than anyone else.
The near future. The heat is stifling. The air is unbreathable. The climate emergency is escalating and there’s going to be a reckoning as those responsible are held to account for the damage done. The jurors? Teenagers.
A jury of young people weigh up the fate of adult defendants, each of whom attempts to defend their carbon footprint and its devastating consequences. But are the jury delivering justice, or just taking revenge
Confronting, shocking, and searingly relevant, The Trials grapples with the burning questions of our age – what kind of planet are we leaving for our children? Will they condemn us for not taking action when we had the chance? And will they be justified?
The Trials was a Canberra Youth Theatre production.
“This engaging and thought-provoking play was delivered powerfully by the cast who maintained an even pace, energy and conviction… This brutal depiction of the loss of innocence of children and a likely scenario of the state of the climate crisis and the decisions made in this play by the jury left the audience visibly shaken.”
– Samara Purnell, CityNews
“Luke Rogers’ direction is powerfully incisive and the cast of Canberra Youth Theatre’s production commit themselves wholeheartedly to the furious debate that centres on the trials of three members of the older generation… the impact will stay with you long after you have left the theatre. It “must give pause for thought” and hopefully give rise to action… Not to be missed.”
– Peter Wilkins, Canberra Critics Circle
“A compelling production of an important play that raises many uncomfortable questions about humanity and survival.”
– Bill Stephens, Australian Arts Review
“confronting, thoughtful, emotionally powerful and absolutely worth seeing.”
– Simon Tolhurst, That Guy Who Watches Canberra Theatre
