A true story, still unfolding. June 3, 2017. A 25-year-old former Air Force linguist named Reality Winner is surprised at her home by the FBI, interrogated, and then charged with leaking evidence of Russian interference in U.S elections. Reality remains in jail with a record-breaking sentence.
The FBI transcript of her interrogation is the heart of IS THIS A ROOM, conceived as a play and directed by Obie Award-winner Tina Satter, in which an extraordinary human drama unfolds between the complex and witty Reality (Emily Davis), and the agents who question her. As Reality’s autonomy shrinks before her eyes, a simmering real-life thriller emerges, asking what it is to have honor in this American moment, and how the personal can reverberate globally.
To learn more about Reality Winner also check out this page.
Named “BEST THEATRE OF 2019”
Critic’s Pick!
“IS THIS A ROOM IS REMARKABLE! AN EXTRAORDINARY THEATRE WORK.
A sharp, blindingly polished slice of theater vérité. Davis delivers one of the most trenchantly observed performances of the year.”
— Ben Brantley, The New York Times
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“HIGHLY ABSORBING. IS THIS A ROOM
HAS A MOVINGLY HUMAN PRESENCE AT ITS CORE.”
Emily Davis gives a performance of heart-wrenching rawness and lucidity.”
— Adam Feldman, Time Out New York
“I INSIST YOU SEE IS THIS A ROOM. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES OF PERFORMANCE EVER. EMILY DAVIS IS ELECTRIFYING!”
— Helen Shaw, New York Magazine
“Surreal and poignant.
Emily Davis is heartbreaking.”
— Elisabeth Vincentelli, The New Yorker
“A WHITE-KNUCKLE THRILLER.
Gripping Performances.”
— Zachary Steward, TheaterMania
“GO SEE THIS OUTSTANDING PIECE OF THEATRE!!
A fascinating combination of verbatim documentary theatre and stylized performance piece. Pure Pinter-like energy to the language, evasions, pauses. All of the actors are doing incredible work.”
— David Cote, New York Drama Critics Circle
“PROFOUNDLY COMPELLING. WILL KEEP YOU AT THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT.
Hits the heights of drama and the lows of current American politics with resounding realism and nerve-wracking suspense. EMILY DAVIS’S PORTRAYAL IS A TOUR-DE-FORCE.”
— Deb Miller, DC Metro Arts
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A STRIKING NEW WORK OF THEATER!
Smartly devised and directed by Tina Satter. IS THIS A ROOM packs a sharp slice of real life that gives audiences something current and substantial to chew over afterwards.”
— Michael Sommers, New York Stage Review
“DAVIS’ PERFORMANCE IS MASTERFUL.
If you were only going to go to one play the rest of the year make it this one.”
— Elizabeth Foster, New York Theatre Guide
Listen to Tina Satter and Emily Davis talk about why Reality Winner’s story is such an important and timely one to be told, on the latest episode of Theatre Uncorked.
