Video and credits reflect the October 2023 premiere. The production will be modified to tour and the show will have a cast of five. One actor will portray Robert Smalls throughout his life.
Touring 26/27
Suggested for Grades 2-12, Family & Multi-Generational Audiences
Produced by the Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC
Against the backdrop of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, a young man’s act of courage reshaped a nation. Finding Freedom tells the true story of Robert Smalls, born enslaved in Beaufort, who commandeered a Confederate ship in Charleston Harbor and delivered it to Union forces—securing freedom for himself, his family, and others aboard. This theatrical production traces his remarkable journey from his Gullah upbringing through this defining moment and into a life of public service and advocacy. Through original music, dynamic movement, and immersive projections, audiences are drawn into a visually rich and emotionally powerful retelling of one of America’s most inspiring heroes. Created for audiences of all ages, the show invites viewers to reflect on themes of agency, bravery, and transformation. It is both a celebration of a local hero and a universal story of resistance and hope.
