STAGE: Seeing Violet (Jan. 9-25)

A house steeped in history. The unsettling truths that rise from its walls. And a mysterious visitor.  When Betsy and John renovate their 18th-century New England home, a series of discoveries—including a freedom paper for an enslaved woman named Violet—shatter their understanding of the past. Betsy is drawn into a relentless quest to uncover violet’s story and confront the painful legacy their family and community tried to forget.

Spanning centuries and peeling back layers of denial, Seeing Violet is a gripping new drama about memory, reckoning, and the cost of looking away. World Premiere.

Seeing Violet was awarded the 2020 Pestalozzi Prize by the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport for best full-length play in their New Works Festival.

Content Advisory: This production contains mature themes and a depiction of physical violence. 

Education Series | Sunday Matinee Talkbacks

In partnership with Strawbery Banke Museum, Black Heritage Trail of NH, & Seacoast African American Cultural Center

Following all three Sunday matinee performances, audiences are invited to stay for optional post-show conversations that deepen the themes of the production and connect the work onstage to Portsmouth’s history, culture, and living stories. All talkbacks are included with admission.

Sunday, January 11
The first Sunday matinee will be followed by an intimate conversation with the playwright, the director, the cast & team, offering insight into the artistic process, creative choices, and the journey of bringing the production to life. Moderated by Leslie Pasternack.

Sunday, January 18
This talkback will center Black history in the Seacoast, exploring the power of place-based storytelling and community engagement. Moderated by Alexandra Martin (Archeologist, SBM), the discussion features JerriAnne Boggis (Executive Director, BHTNH) and Sandi Clark Kaddy (President, SAACC)

Sunday, January 25
The final conversation in the series focuses on historic preservation and public memory. Elizabeth Farish (Chief Curator, SBM) will discuss the Penhallow-Cousins House project, joined by Barbara Ward (Program Developer, BHTNH), who will share insights into the Ona Judge mural project and its role in expanding public awareness of Portsmouth’s Black heritage. Moderated by Linnea Grim, Strawbery Banke Museum President and CEO, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair.