Letitia Wright Stars in “The Story” at National Theatre
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Letitia Wright Stars in "The Story" at National Theatre
- Tracey Scott Wilson's play, "The Story," which premiered off-Broadway in 2003, is making its UK debut at the National Theatre, exploring themes of race, journalistic ethics, and the pursuit of headlines.
- Directed by Clint Dyer, the production features Letitia Wright as Yvonne, an ambitious young Black journalist whose determination to succeed leads her to blur the lines between truth and narrative.
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“The Story” centers on a fast-paced newsroom after a white schoolteacher is murdered by an unknown Black assailant in a Black neighborhood, witnessed by his pregnant wife. This event ignites a media frenzy and moral panic, with reporters scrambling for the defining headline. Letitia Wright plays Yvonne, a driven Black journalist working in a section of a prominent regional US newspaper, “The Vanguard,” dedicated to positive stories about the Black community. Yvonne, however, desires to be seen as a reporter, not solely a Black reporter, and seeks a more impactful story to advance her career.
Her ambition leads her to investigate the murder, pushing her to make ethical compromises as she becomes increasingly invested in the case. The play draws inspiration from the real-life scandal of Janet Cooke, a *Washington Post* journalist who fabricated a Pulitzer Prize-winning story in 1981. Yvonne’s editor, Pat (Lorraine Toussaint), pushes for positive portrayals of the Black community, while Yvonne’s white editor boyfriend, Jeff (Wilf Scolding), promises her a bigger role if she proves herself.
Tracey Scott Wilson’s 2003 play, directed by Clint Dyer, explores the complexities of race, power, and public narratives, remaining particularly relevant in today’s media landscape. The production utilizes a kinetic pace with fast cuts between scenes and overlapping dialogue to create an intense newsroom atmosphere. “The Story” is running at the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre until October 24, 2026.