The Larramie Project
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https://newtheatre.org.au/the-laramie-project/
Date Reviewed: 10/10/2025
“We need to own this crime … We are like this. We ARE like this.”
The Laramie Project is a documentary play written by Moises Kaufman and the members of the New York-based Tectonic Theatre Project, premiering in 2000.
It was written in response to the assault and murder of a young gay man named Matthew Shepard, the victim of a homophobic hate crime which occurred in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998.
A total of over 200 interviews were conducted with members of the Laramie community in an attempt to find out what happened and why. The play is crafted from the interviews that were conducted at that time.
The New Theatre has taken on the challenge of presenting this complex piece and has done so, very successfully. This is quite a creative piece and the performance on stage is definitely something special.
The production is presented as a montage of the information gathered, portraying the community's struggle with the tragedy and the issues raised in its aftermath. As such, the cast comes together as an ensemble, seamlessly transitioning into the many characters that are portrayed, telling the story with passion and emotion. It is difficult to identify whose performance stands out over the rest for the cast as a whole, and individually produce performances on stage that are almost faultless.
The staging is simple but very effective as is the lighting and sound. As a result, the efforts of those behind the curtain and those on stage come together to present a first-class production. The theatre is small and intimate, which complements the play well and draws you into the drama being portrayed before you. The performance I attended was virtually sold out.
The Laramie Project is playing at the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown from 7 October - 1 November, 2025 with a running time of 2 hours, 30 minutes (including interval). It is directed by Mark G Nagle, Assistant Director Nick Bradshaw. Set Design is by David Marshall-Martin, lighting design by Tash McBride and music composed by Alexander Sussman. Starring in the key roles, which seek to portray more than 60 characters, are Stephen Allnutt, Michelle Robin Anderson, Gina Cohen, Ruba El-Kaddoumi, Rayyan Khan, Rich Knighton, Samantha Lambert, John Michael Narres, Riya T and Charlie White.
This is a piece that will remain with you long after you leave the theatre and lose yourself in the magic and confusion that is King Street, Newtown.
Congratulations New Theatre, a stellar production.