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Things I Know to be True
Bob and Fran have worked hard to give their four children the opportunities they never had. Now, with the kids ready to make lives of their own, it's time to sit back and smell the roses. But the change of the seasons reveals some shattering truths, leaving us asking whether it's possible to love too much.
Things I Know To Be True is Andrew Bovell's complex and intense portrait of the mechanics of a family - and a marriage - through the eyes of four siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents' love and expectations.
Beautifully touching, funny and bold, the play was premiered in Adelaide, Australia, as a co-production between Frantic Assembly and the State Theatre Company of South Australia. It received its British premiere in 2016, co-produced with Warwick Arts Centre in association with Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith.
Things I Know To Be True is Andrew Bovell's complex and intense portrait of the mechanics of a family - and a marriage - through the eyes of four siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents' love and expectations.
Beautifully touching, funny and bold, the play was premiered in Adelaide, Australia, as a co-production between Frantic Assembly and the State Theatre Company of South Australia. It received its British premiere in 2016, co-produced with Warwick Arts Centre in association with Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith.
68 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
January 10, 2017
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Andrew Bovell is incapable of writing a play that isn't intelligent, brutally honest and compellingly alive, with multidimensional characters and beautiful language. However, his latest about a couple facing the fracturing of their family has just too many hot button issues to deal with in one play - as season follows season, each of their four kids has some earthshattering revelation (infidelity, transsexuality, embezzlement and - the final horror - wanting to leave home to become a writer) ... and the revelations all, more or less, follow the same pattern, so that one becomes inured after awhile. And by the final tragic death, one just becomes a bit numb. That said, it is still a wonderfully written piece of work, and I'd love to see it staged, since it gives each of the six actors bravura moments to perform.
Andrew Bovell is incapable of writing a play that isn't intelligent, brutally honest and compellingly alive, with multidimensional characters and beautiful language. However, his latest about a couple facing the fracturing of their family has just too many hot button issues to deal with in one play - as season follows season, each of their four kids has some earthshattering revelation (infidelity, transsexuality, embezzlement and - the final horror - wanting to leave home to become a writer) ... and the revelations all, more or less, follow the same pattern, so that one becomes inured after awhile. And by the final tragic death, one just becomes a bit numb. That said, it is still a wonderfully written piece of work, and I'd love to see it staged, since it gives each of the six actors bravura moments to perform.
November 16, 2022
A lovely play.
The entanglements of family when together.
Life sometimes does not turn out the way you might have envisaged it to become.
From down under.
(Awful and inchoate cover)
The entanglements of family when together.
Life sometimes does not turn out the way you might have envisaged it to become.
From down under.
(Awful and inchoate cover)
April 27, 2020
Reading plays is a tricky business as they're invariably better when watched. This isn't the case with Things I Know to be True; I found this to be a profound and quietly devastating look at the dynamics of one close knit family.
March 30, 2022
Stole this from the script cupboard ages ago and just got around to reading it, made me tear up ;(
February 12, 2023
a top dog needs to bring this one back! GCSE drama realness
October 6, 2019
This was clever and had some funny and touching moments, but each child in the family had some earth-shattering crisis that was revealed and by the tragic end, I just felt a bit numb.
I saw this performed in Arizona. There was an updated twist to one of the characters (trans instead of gay), but otherwise, it followed the play exactly. The setting was creative and beautiful - a changing set of rose bushes helping to show the changing seasons.
Overall, I found it interesting and worth a night’s discussion.
I saw this performed in Arizona. There was an updated twist to one of the characters (trans instead of gay), but otherwise, it followed the play exactly. The setting was creative and beautiful - a changing set of rose bushes helping to show the changing seasons.
Overall, I found it interesting and worth a night’s discussion.
July 14, 2023
earth shattering and mind blowing. one of the first plays i bawled my eyes out to in joy and heart ache, but a cry that i never wanted to end through it being rooted in sheer awe of how phenomenal this play is. bovell successfully presents the harsh reality of family life that cuts so deeply to many and exhibits the inner workings of lives that so many strive to hide from the external world. he does it so brilliantly that you don’t even have time to realise you’re reflecting on your own life and family relationships and relating your own position to what you’re perceiving on the pages. absolutely phenomenal in so so many ways.
February 23, 2025
“And to stop myself coming apart I make a list of all the things I know… I mean actually know for certain to be true and the really frightening thing is… It’s a very short list.
I don’t know much at all.”
I’ve read this play more times then I can count and every single time it still manages to devastate me. The Price family is lovingly crafted and every character is so multifaceted and well developed. This play focuses mostly on the lowest moments of the family, but also shows the deep love that bonds them all together. The messiness of family is so wonderfully captured: all of the moments where you hate having family and all the times you lean on them when you need them most. It’s truly a stunning work of art and the final monologue never fails to make me tear up.
I don’t know much at all.”
I’ve read this play more times then I can count and every single time it still manages to devastate me. The Price family is lovingly crafted and every character is so multifaceted and well developed. This play focuses mostly on the lowest moments of the family, but also shows the deep love that bonds them all together. The messiness of family is so wonderfully captured: all of the moments where you hate having family and all the times you lean on them when you need them most. It’s truly a stunning work of art and the final monologue never fails to make me tear up.
July 25, 2021
I love this play so much I can’t even put it into words. I cry every time.
February 15, 2022
Family is weird. Bovell is good at capturing that.
February 16, 2024
Stunning portrayal of family.
January 12, 2022
A very good play, bruising, emotional and funny. However there are slightly too many themes and subplots to handle across a relatively short play. Bovell does his best and nearly manages it but a few of the moments seem too big to then just disappear.
May 3, 2021
4.5 Stars
Bovell's play reads particularly well considering it is written for the stage. It is filled with deeply nuanced characters which provide the audience with enough conflict to keep them interested throughout its entire runtime. The play itself centers less around action but rather the family's reaction to specific stimuli, the dynamic shared between the characters, in particular when they are in a state of argument, and how this affects the entire family as a whole. Interestingly, normally when reviewing I would consider this structural decision to be a potential hindrance to the plot, as in this style there isn't really one defined "plot" and therefore, it would risk me losing interest. However, due to the way the book is structured, phasing through the seasons, and its modest runtime (87 pages), this dynamic works rather well, producing a contemporary naturalist play with plenty to sink one's teeth into.
It is rare that a piece has more than three very well-developed characters, however, the entirety of Bovell's cast has a defined personality and identity. This is particularly impressive as due to the medium one can only experience them through dialogue and brief, sparse stage directions. Therefore, such an achievement by Bovell to create such a developed and diverse cast must be commended. Moreover, their reactions to situations put in front of them by the playwright are, in my opinion, always correct and fitting with their respective character. This again is a commendable achievement as not once did I feel I was taken out of the story due to a miss action, and therefore this helped me sift through the story comfortably in an afternoon, keeping my enjoyment constant.
The only criticisms I can harbour towards Bovell's work are: I feel this would have been better as a film- similar to Moonlight. I am not quite sure how it transfers effectively to stage and thus when visualizing the scenes I placed them in their actual setting, as opposed to their on-stage setting as I was not sure how it would have worked in a theatre. This is not a formal hindrance to the text, however, it is strange when reading a play script to be transferred to the stage. Also, I was not too sure of the significance of the roses throughout, as they do indeed provide a powerful image however, I don't feel they are utilized enough to fully convey Bovell's intention for them.
Overall, Things I Know to be True is a piece of drama that is delightfully contemporary, diverse and enjoyable from start to finish. It contained deep and nuanced characters, which provoke genuine emotions within you as a reader, both positive and negative, and to me, it earns the title as a must-read piece of drama.
Bovell's play reads particularly well considering it is written for the stage. It is filled with deeply nuanced characters which provide the audience with enough conflict to keep them interested throughout its entire runtime. The play itself centers less around action but rather the family's reaction to specific stimuli, the dynamic shared between the characters, in particular when they are in a state of argument, and how this affects the entire family as a whole. Interestingly, normally when reviewing I would consider this structural decision to be a potential hindrance to the plot, as in this style there isn't really one defined "plot" and therefore, it would risk me losing interest. However, due to the way the book is structured, phasing through the seasons, and its modest runtime (87 pages), this dynamic works rather well, producing a contemporary naturalist play with plenty to sink one's teeth into.
It is rare that a piece has more than three very well-developed characters, however, the entirety of Bovell's cast has a defined personality and identity. This is particularly impressive as due to the medium one can only experience them through dialogue and brief, sparse stage directions. Therefore, such an achievement by Bovell to create such a developed and diverse cast must be commended. Moreover, their reactions to situations put in front of them by the playwright are, in my opinion, always correct and fitting with their respective character. This again is a commendable achievement as not once did I feel I was taken out of the story due to a miss action, and therefore this helped me sift through the story comfortably in an afternoon, keeping my enjoyment constant.
The only criticisms I can harbour towards Bovell's work are: I feel this would have been better as a film- similar to Moonlight. I am not quite sure how it transfers effectively to stage and thus when visualizing the scenes I placed them in their actual setting, as opposed to their on-stage setting as I was not sure how it would have worked in a theatre. This is not a formal hindrance to the text, however, it is strange when reading a play script to be transferred to the stage. Also, I was not too sure of the significance of the roses throughout, as they do indeed provide a powerful image however, I don't feel they are utilized enough to fully convey Bovell's intention for them.
Overall, Things I Know to be True is a piece of drama that is delightfully contemporary, diverse and enjoyable from start to finish. It contained deep and nuanced characters, which provoke genuine emotions within you as a reader, both positive and negative, and to me, it earns the title as a must-read piece of drama.
February 15, 2019
A play about time and how it doesn’t stop. Incredibly vulnerable stories of a family bound and unbound by time, and their own pursuits of life outside of home. Bovell writes so truthfully and honestly about the hardships of love and growing older in time and in relationships that its startling. It’s raw and rough and beautiful and frightening. It shows that growing up really never stops and it scares me in the most wonderful way.
March 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this play. It included strong characters that balanced each other out. They interacted in ways that were enjoyable to read but also very realistic. The representation of a transgender character was refreshing, seeing how her family reacted was heartbreaking but was also understandable, you could sympathise with both sides.
The ending was a shock, I wasn't expecting Fran to die, for some reason I was expecting Bob to be the one to die. I felt led to believe this with the hints to dementia in the piece. They were subtle and not too overpowering to the plot line.
My favourite character was Rosie. I related to her struggles with feeling trapped at home and wanting to leave, then once you leave you realise how much you miss home. I also related heavily to her monologue at the end of the play where she details the moments after finding out her mum has died. That immediate news of death can completely wind you and I think that Bovell captured that extremely well.
The ending was a shock, I wasn't expecting Fran to die, for some reason I was expecting Bob to be the one to die. I felt led to believe this with the hints to dementia in the piece. They were subtle and not too overpowering to the plot line.
My favourite character was Rosie. I related to her struggles with feeling trapped at home and wanting to leave, then once you leave you realise how much you miss home. I also related heavily to her monologue at the end of the play where she details the moments after finding out her mum has died. That immediate news of death can completely wind you and I think that Bovell captured that extremely well.
February 9, 2023
Una obra íntima y sin pretensiones de grandeza: es grande porque se nutre de las pequeñas interrelaciones que conforman una familia.
Un relato sobre la pérdida, que entraña mil ilusiones, insatisfacción, resquemores, rechazo.
Sabe construir una familia usual, común, anodina, y elevarla en los cielos de los extraordinario: lo extraordinario en lo ordinario.
Un relato sobre la pérdida, que entraña mil ilusiones, insatisfacción, resquemores, rechazo.
Sabe construir una familia usual, común, anodina, y elevarla en los cielos de los extraordinario: lo extraordinario en lo ordinario.
October 23, 2022
Things I Know to be True no es exactamente la historia de la familia Price -Fran, Bob y sus cuatro hijos, ya adultos- sino una sucesión de viñetas, escenas familiares breves, que tienen lugar a lo largo de un año. Pero ya se sabe que en cualquier conversación casual puede manifestarse el pasado, especialmente en las relaciones familiares, las más enraizadas y complejas de todas. A esta familia no solo le pasan cosas muy serias, acaso demasiadas para un solo año; todos los conflictos que atraviesan evocan otros conflictos, viejas cuentas pendientes, ponen todo el tiempo de manifiesto el deseo de cambiar lo que los otros piensan de cada uno, los roles asignados, las expectativas. Me gusta la expresión come to terms del inglés, con un sentido visual y espacial que es imposible traer al español. Por supuesto, no logran nada de lo que se proponen. Los conflictos en todo caso se avivan, los nudos se ajustan un poco más. Nada más que la muerte de uno de los personajes le pone un freno a esta escalada interminable. La sensación es la de un final prematuro, ocurrido antes de que pudieran solucionarse las cosas – pero alcanza con releer la obra para saber que nada iba a solucionarse nunca. Las familias infelices son el tema eterno de la literatura, y de nuestras vidas. Pero la atmósfera íntima del teatro las vuelve todavía más desdichadas. Por momentos, Things I Know to be True me recordaba a la escena de ser invitado a la casa de alguien y tener que presenciar una discusión familiar que debería haber tenido lugar puertas adentro. Sí, es muy incómodo verse en esta situación, pero, ¿quién es capaz de dejar de escuchar?
October 23, 2022
Things I Know to be True is not exactly the story of the Price family -Fran, Bob and their four grown children- but rather a succession of vignettes, brief family scenes, that take place throughout of a year. However, it is well known that in any casual conversation the past can manifest itself, especially in family relationships, the most rooted and complex of all. Not only do serious things happen to this family, perhaps too many for a single year; all the conflicts that they go through evoke other conflicts, old pending scores, and they constantly show the desire to change what others think of each one, the assigned roles, the expectations. Of course, they do not achieve anything of what they set out to do. The conflicts are intensified every time they try to solve them, the knots are tightened a little more. Nothing more than the death of one of the characters puts a stop to this endless escalation. The feeling is that of a premature ending, which occurred before things could be solved – but rereading the play is enough to know that nothing was ever going to be solved. Unhappy families are the eternal theme of literature, and of our lives. But the intimate atmosphere of the theater makes them even more miserable. At times, Things I Know to be True reminded me of the scene of being invited to someone's house and having to witness a family argument that should have taken place behind closed doors. Yes, it is very uncomfortable to be in this situation, but who is able to stop listening?
September 11, 2024
"and so to stop myself from coming apart i make a list of things i know... i mean actually know for certain to be true and the really frightening thing is... its a very short list. i dont know much at all."
i watched this for the first time at the lyric in hammersmith when i was eighteen and sobbed for the last 15 minutes of it. 6 and a half years later and it seems not much has changed 🥴. a devastatingly honest depiction of a family crumbling at the seams. Bovell does so well at writing very flawed characters that despite everything, you care for them. you, *spoilers* alongside the rest of her family, grieve the mum as if she were your own, because even though she says and does some *pretty* shitty things, there is something about the humanity of her that makes it hit so close to home. i know its so basic of me to be like "things i know to be true is one of my favourite plays 🤓🤪" but it really is some great writing. love.
i watched this for the first time at the lyric in hammersmith when i was eighteen and sobbed for the last 15 minutes of it. 6 and a half years later and it seems not much has changed 🥴. a devastatingly honest depiction of a family crumbling at the seams. Bovell does so well at writing very flawed characters that despite everything, you care for them. you, *spoilers* alongside the rest of her family, grieve the mum as if she were your own, because even though she says and does some *pretty* shitty things, there is something about the humanity of her that makes it hit so close to home. i know its so basic of me to be like "things i know to be true is one of my favourite plays 🤓🤪" but it really is some great writing. love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2025
after this being recommended to me by a friend I decided to read this on BookBeat. I wasn't sure what I get myself into, but I'm glad I picked this book up as it was an emotional rollercoaster set on the backdrop of modern day life and how are parents views of us shapers as human beings and adults.
Bovells monologues are not only detailed and emotionally inspiring and well written, they make you think about your most vulnerable moments in life. All the characters are well crafted and interesting and have something to say.
The plays dialogue run smoothly and is packed with tid bits of information that really reflects what each character is thinking in the moment. The plays plot keeps you on your toes thinking of what could be next.
and then up to the last moment of the play I was really wondering in what the end could've been, I was not ready for the emotional standpoint of what was to come. If you come across this play please, please read it. you won't be disappointed.
Bovells monologues are not only detailed and emotionally inspiring and well written, they make you think about your most vulnerable moments in life. All the characters are well crafted and interesting and have something to say.
The plays dialogue run smoothly and is packed with tid bits of information that really reflects what each character is thinking in the moment. The plays plot keeps you on your toes thinking of what could be next.
and then up to the last moment of the play I was really wondering in what the end could've been, I was not ready for the emotional standpoint of what was to come. If you come across this play please, please read it. you won't be disappointed.
January 6, 2019
This play is one of the ultimate new contemporary plays about family and what it is like for families to grow old and grow apart to have their own lives. We follow Bob and Fran and their four children Pip, Mark, Ben and Rosie. The four children, or better said the four adults are all trying to find themselves in the world and they almost blame their parents for the way that they are and how they are able to escape and be their own person. At the same time the parents want to go back to a similar time but was there ever one. Everyone is searching for a way to do something for themselves but how to do that without hurting the family. The play takes place over the space of a year and we see the family become more and more spread apart until we get to the end when one last heart hitting moment brings them all back together.
November 23, 2024
started properly enjoying this once I realised that it wasn't predictable — I had just forgotten going to see this in 2016 or so. Family dynamics all work well and the monologues are a strong synthesis of lyrical and naturalistic prose. I appreciate the simple staging and evocative but sparse direction.
Wish Mia's story had a little more depth, but to be honest it was sad to think that a production of this blue would potentially draw more controversy for its portrayal of trans-coming-out than it did last decade.
Wish Mia's story had a little more depth, but to be honest it was sad to think that a production of this blue would potentially draw more controversy for its portrayal of trans-coming-out than it did last decade.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2020
This might be one of the saddest plays I've ever read. And it's plot is... Unusual. A series of conflicts for each sibling works up and resolves it self, like interconnected short stories or vignettes. I read a lot of plays and this has more plot lines than you would expect, tied together by the family unit. I don't think I've read many Australian playwrights, but I'm interested to see what else is out there.
January 23, 2023
I read this because I need a monologue for my drama piece, but I actually quite liked it.
It was short but sad, I nearly even cried.
It was so emotional and I was not ready for it. I really liked it and I can’t wait to see what I do with one of the monologues, probably Rosie’s because she was a character that spoke to me of being lost and trying to find a place, which I feel like a lot of young people understand!
It was short but sad, I nearly even cried.
It was so emotional and I was not ready for it. I really liked it and I can’t wait to see what I do with one of the monologues, probably Rosie’s because she was a character that spoke to me of being lost and trying to find a place, which I feel like a lot of young people understand!
February 25, 2024
Meridian Harrap recommended this as her “Favorite Play Ever” and I took that and ran with it. This was quite a surprise to read and a fantastic way of going about the family drama. Personally this enthralled me for a number of reasons. The premise, the dialogue and the evolution of the story and its stakes are each exciting in their own way.
The premise is a family of six are moving onto their adult lives. The mother and father are learning to live their lives without their kids being a prominent part and the kids are learning to live their lives and raising their families.
This felt like the Australian ‘Death of a Salesman’ in the ways that enfolded the true desires of these character lives. These characters feel so real and so alive within the dialogue. I can’t believe how this play was workshopped. It feels so tight in its narrative while able to focus on each character’s lives.
I am so desperate to watch this play and experience it live. This is such a fantastic piece of theater and literature. I am very excited to come back to this in the future and see how my opinion changes about this.
Easy five stars and a great motivator for my play reading marathon!
The premise is a family of six are moving onto their adult lives. The mother and father are learning to live their lives without their kids being a prominent part and the kids are learning to live their lives and raising their families.
This felt like the Australian ‘Death of a Salesman’ in the ways that enfolded the true desires of these character lives. These characters feel so real and so alive within the dialogue. I can’t believe how this play was workshopped. It feels so tight in its narrative while able to focus on each character’s lives.
I am so desperate to watch this play and experience it live. This is such a fantastic piece of theater and literature. I am very excited to come back to this in the future and see how my opinion changes about this.
Easy five stars and a great motivator for my play reading marathon!
April 12, 2024
Much in the vein of "August: Osage County", this play captures the struggles of a dysfunctional family, but has a knack of looking at it from a humanistic standpoint, where the audience/reader can glean some humour from the situation. Don't get me wrong; it is a drama, through and through. But, any play this heavy needs the deft touch of a director who can bring understanding smiles away from the carnage that dysfunction wreaks.
April 22, 2024
This was perfect, literally the exact kind of stuff I love. About a regular family dealing with regular life stuff. The parents had certain hopes and dreams for the kids lives, the kids had other plans. Everyone means well, but emotions run high and things sometimes come out in not the best way, and everyone’s hurting.
I’d love to see this performed as a play or turned into a movie. If just reading the script was this good, I’m sure acted out it would be even better.
I’d love to see this performed as a play or turned into a movie. If just reading the script was this good, I’m sure acted out it would be even better.
May 1, 2024
poignant tale of a family’s dramas that we can all relate to.
Loved how the four seasons were attributed to each of the four kids as we spent one year in the life of one family.
Loved how each season opened with a monologue.
Loved the way it went full circle, the beginning was the end as we circled back to the beginning.
Loved how the youngest began & ended the story, returning & leaving, opening & closing the circle.
Loved how the four seasons were attributed to each of the four kids as we spent one year in the life of one family.
Loved how each season opened with a monologue.
Loved the way it went full circle, the beginning was the end as we circled back to the beginning.
Loved how the youngest began & ended the story, returning & leaving, opening & closing the circle.
February 7, 2025
Wow.
Oh my gods.
That hit me like a high-speed train.
It started off as just a play I have to read for lamda, but oh my days, it's so good.
As the eldest child and eldest daughter at that, I really feel for Pip.
And omg, the parallels in the lines between the beginning and the end are so clever
Also ended up genuinely sobbing SOBBING by the end, and now all I need is to see it performed live by frantic assembly
Oh my gods.
That hit me like a high-speed train.
It started off as just a play I have to read for lamda, but oh my days, it's so good.
As the eldest child and eldest daughter at that, I really feel for Pip.
And omg, the parallels in the lines between the beginning and the end are so clever
Also ended up genuinely sobbing SOBBING by the end, and now all I need is to see it performed live by frantic assembly
May 28, 2020
probably a 3.5
I read this for a class this semester and while I really enjoyed it, I think it does fall into the already very large category of plays about white Australian suburban families' stories. I think the inclusion of a trans character is meant to counter this but that particular storyline ends up being secondary to the classic plot of a man and woman being unhappy in marriage and cheating on each other. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, and I definitely think it had its strengths, especially in individual character relationships and family dynamics, many of which ring true to me, but I have seen/read so many Australian plays about cheating in marriage and I am getting more than slightly sick of it
I read this for a class this semester and while I really enjoyed it, I think it does fall into the already very large category of plays about white Australian suburban families' stories. I think the inclusion of a trans character is meant to counter this but that particular storyline ends up being secondary to the classic plot of a man and woman being unhappy in marriage and cheating on each other. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, and I definitely think it had its strengths, especially in individual character relationships and family dynamics, many of which ring true to me, but I have seen/read so many Australian plays about cheating in marriage and I am getting more than slightly sick of it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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