The 25th anniversary staged reading of The Laramie Project, held on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, at the City Recital Hall in Sydney, was met with standing ovations and hailed as a huge success. The event featured an all-star Australian cast, including Nicholas Brown, Casey Donovan, Benjamin Law, Zindzi Okenyo, Tony Sheldon, and Lyndon Watts, under the direction of Dean Bryant.
Special guest Dennis Shepard, father of Matthew Shepard, delivered a poignant and powerful speech, echoing the one he made in the Wyoming courtroom 25 years ago. The audience was deeply moved by the performance, which vividly brought Matthew Shepard’s story to life, and the room was filled with applause and admiration multiple times throughout the evening.
Following the reading, an on-stage Q&A with Dennis Shepard and the creative team provided insightful discussions on the role of the arts in social justice movements. The event not only commemorated Matthew Shepard’s legacy but also highlighted the ongoing fight against hate crimes.
All proceeds from the night were dedicated to the Tectonic Theater Project Playwriting Scholarship for an Australian LGBTQIA+ playwright and the Matthew Shepard Foundation. This memorable evening showcased the enduring impact of The Laramie Project and reinforced the power of theatre in fostering social change.
