“Giver what causes you pain? If you gave some of it to me, maybe your pain would be less.”
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
By Lois Lowry
Adaptation and Direction: Elise Thoron
Performed by Aurea Tomeski
Appropriate for: elementary / middle / high school, college, and community audiences
Available for: live performances
This Newbery-Award winning novel has captivated generations with its haunting vision of a world without memory, emotion, or individuality.
The Story
At the age of twelve, Jonas is chosen for a special role in his seemingly utopian community: Receiver of Memories. Under the guidance of the elder known as the Giver, Jonas discovers the hidden truths that no one else is allowed to experience. Jonas is forced to question everything, and must decide whether to accept the safety of conformity or risk it all for freedom.
In Performance
Actor Aurea Tomeski portrays the relationship between young Jonas and his mentor, The Giver. As Jonas trains to become the new Receiver of Memories, the buried truth about the world that he was born into becomes hauntingly clear to both Jonas and the audience. This adaptation challenges audiences to question every value that they have taken for granted and reexamine their most deeply held beliefs.
The Giver was brought on to LTL’s roster as our first Young Adult novel more than fourteen years ago.