Josiah: Powerful One-Man play that brings a Canadian hero’s story to life
By Ijeoma Ukazu
Produced by Thousand Miles of Bricks and starring the extraordinary Cassel Miles, Josiah is an epic one-man stage play that brings to life the courage and resilience of a Canadian hero whose story deserves far more recognition. Staged at the Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa, the production offers an unforgettable exploration of Josiah Henson’s life—a man who escaped slavery in Maryland, United States, and carved out freedom against staggering odds.
At its core, Josiah is not simply a history lesson. It is a visceral, deeply human portrayal of survival, resistance, and hope. Through Miles’ superb performance, the audience is transported from the dehumanizing brutality of the auction block to Henson’s daring flight across 700 miles of dangerous terrain and finally to his escape to Canada, where he screams freedom at last. Miles delivers the narrative with such emotional depth that it feels less like watching a performance and more like living through Henson’s journey alongside him.
A Story That Demands to Be Told
Josiah Henson’s life reads like an epic. Born into slavery in Maryland, he endured separation, backbreaking labour, and maltreatment, yet he rose to positions of responsibility, even overseeing farms and workers. Despite his contributions to his enslavers, he was still treated as property.
He recounts the tragedy of being sold at auction, alongside his mother’s desperate plea to keep at least one child—Josiah—after his brothers and sisters were sold into slavery. Her plea was denied, but when Josiah fell ill, he was purchased at a low price by Isaac Riley so that he could recover near his mother. Riley thus became the enslaver of both Josiah and his mother.
Josiah describes the harsh living conditions he endured, yet also the resilience of his unbroken spirit. He recalls his attempt to obtain a spelling book, the severe punishment he faced when caught, and his unshakable excitement at the prospect of learning to read.
In the United States, educating enslaved people was considered dangerous, as literacy was considered a pathway to resistance and potential rebellion. Slaveholders argued that teaching enslaved individuals to read and write would undermine the security of the southern states.
In 1830, driven by an unyielding determination to secure freedom for himself and his family, Henson led a dangerous escape to Canada, remarkably, before the Underground Railroad had reached its peak.
A Performance of Power and Precision
The play revolves around the performance of Cassel Miles. In a one-man show, the actor bears the enormous responsibility of embodying not just the protagonist, but the world around him. Miles rises to this challenge with remarkable dexterity, inhabiting multiple characters through shifts in voice, posture, and energy so fluid that the audience scarcely remembers there is only one performer on stage.
He is by turns fierce, tender, and commanding. His physicality conveys Henson’s strength, while his vocal range carries the weight of anguish, resilience, and faith. Most powerfully, Miles channels Henson’s humanity—his doubts, his moments of despair, his enduring faith, and his unbreakable will.
The staging is minimal, but elaborate sets or costumes aren’t needed. The power lies in Miles’ embodiment of Henson and Charles Robertson’s evocative writing. Together, they paint a vivid picture of the slave markets, the perilous escape, the cold northern forests, and the hope of freedom across the Canadian border.
Josiah is remarkable for its relevance to today’s conversations about race, identity, and belonging. The play reminds us that history is not distant; it reverberates in the present. Henson’s struggles against systemic injustice, violence, and erasure echo in contemporary debates on equity and historical truth.
The production underscores why telling stories like Henson’s is urgent. The play situates Henson not merely as a footnote to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which his life partly inspired, but as a trailblazer in his own right, a man who reshaped Canadian society and championed education, faith, and freedom.
Cassel Miles delivers a performance that is both intimate and epic, embodying the spirit of Josiah Henson with dignity and passion. The collaboration between Miles and Robertson, more than two decades in the making, has culminated in a work that is as educational as it is emotionally stirring.
In a cultural moment where stories of resilience and truth are vital, Josiah stands as a testament to the power of theatre to educate, move, and inspire. It leaves its audience not only better informed but profoundly changed.
Miles is a triumph of storytelling—a gripping, soul-stirring play that ensures Josiah Henson’s story continues to resonate for generations to come.
Miles mentioned that part two of Josiah may be released soon, as things tend to move quickly these days.
All photos credit: Monique Hutson (Dom Productions) (2025)