Centaur Theatre and National Arts Centre to Present INNOCENCE LOST, Jan 29-Feb 24

Artistic and Executive Director Roy Surette will direct the Centaur Theatre / NAC co-production of Innocence Lost: a play about Steven Truscott. Written by playwright Beverley Cooper, the captivating drama was a sold out hit when it premiered at the Blyth Festival in 2008. It also proved to be a roaring success when it was revived the following season due to popular demand.

Nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award, Innocence Lost re-examines Canada's most controversial wrongful conviction and focuses on the human cost of this tragedy. In 1959, fourteen-year-old Steven Truscott was sentenced to hang for the rape and murder of his twelve-year-old schoolmate, Lynne Harper, making him the youngest person to sit on Canada's death row. Maintaining his innocence throughout, he was acquitted by the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2007. His case made international headlines and contributed to the abolition of the death penalty in this country.

"A fictional character named Sarah, a young farm girl and classmate of Steven Truscott, guides us through this powerful true story. Through Sarah, we witness how the small town of Clinton, Ontario was torn apart and forever changed by this tragedy," says Roy Surette, the Artistic and Executive Director of Centaur Theatre.

"Innocence Lost is not meant to be the definitive word on the trial, conviction and acquittal of Steven Truscott but rather a look at how events unfolded from Sarah's point of view and how those events affected her community. She is the one asking, "How did this happen?" Although I have taken liberties with history for the purpose of making a play, I have tried to keep the characters based on real people as true to their original intentions as possible. I tried to put together what happened on that day in 1959, piece by piece," says Beverley Cooper.

An excellent cast led by Jenny Young (Sarah) and Fiona Reid (Isabel LeBourdais) is comprised of leading stage actors from Montreal and across the country, and emerging artists from Montreal and Ottawa.

Director Roy Surette has called upon a talented team to flesh out this outstanding production: James Lavoie's costumes and minimalist set are enhanced by Luc Prairie's imaginative lighting, original music by Keith Thomas and powerful video design by George Allister and Patrick Andrew Boivin. Stage Manager Melanie St-Jacques is assisted by Samira Rose and Millie Tresierra is the Assistant Director.

Immediately after its Montreal run, Innocence Lost will open at the NAC from February 27 to March 16, 2013.

Thursday Evening Chat-Up: In collaboration with The Gazette, Thursday February 14, 2013 at 7PM, join host David Johnston, Communities Editor at The Gazette, and journalist Julian Sher who produced a documentary on the Steven Truscott case for CBC TV's The Fifth Estate and subsequently wrote a book on the subject - 'Until you are dead'. His investigation provided new evidence that led to Truscott's acquittal.

The production runs in Montreal, Tuesday, January 29 - Sunday, February 24, 2013. Previews: Jan. 29 and 30, 2013 - 8:00PM. Opening Night: Thursday January 31, 2013 - 8:00PM. The regular run continues Tuesday to Saturday - 8:00PM Saturday - Sunday Matinees- 2:00PM Except Sunday February 10, 2013 - 7:00PM Wednesday Matinee - February 6, 2013 - 1:00PM. Closing Performance - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - 2:00PM.

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