"The truth has got to appear plausible on the stage"

Edward Bond’s assertion that “The truth has got to appear plausible on the stage” encapsulates a crucial principle of dramatic storytelling. Theatre is a space where artifice brilliantly intersects with reality, yet the audience’s engagement depends not only on witnessing authentic emotions or profound ideas, but also on accepting them within the context provided. Plausibility becomes a tool that bridges the gap between the world of the play and the perceptions of those watching.

Theatrical ‘truth’ doesn’t require a one-to-one rendering of real life. Instead, it demands an internal consistency, characters behave in ways that make sense, consequences follow causes, and worlds, however fantastical, adhere to the rules they establish. When Bond speaks of truth appearing plausible, he’s emphasizing the importance of believability over strict realism. A play about talking animals or ancient kings does not need to mirror daily existence, but its truths must feel emotionally and logically coherent.

The audience’s investment is contingent on this plausibility. If actions or motives seem forced or unearned, viewers detach, questioning the validity of what unfolds. For playwrights, this means that every element, from dialogue to character development to plot mechanics, must be calibrated so that the ‘truth’ of the play arises naturally from its specifics. The stage invites a contract of make-believe, but that contract falters when the play’s truth strains credibility.

Bond’s insight also gestures toward theatre’s transformative power. Truth, when effectively dramatized, can move people, challenging perspectives or exposing hidden realities. However, if that truth feels implausible, it risks becoming didactic or alienating. The successful dramatist ensures the play’s revelation, whether subtle or monumental, emerges as a lived experience for the audience, neither too distant nor too contrived to resonate. In this sense, plausibility is not merely a test of dramatic skill but a crucial route to authentic human connection.