Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row, London, by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, directed by Linda Ames Key. Presented by The Red Chair Players USA
The
London premiere of The Laramie Project took place last month at London's West
End Cochrane Theatre.
In this acclaimed, multi-award-winning production, the people of Laramie - a small, red neck and often anti-gay American town - come face to face with homophobia and hate crime.
On Wednesday 7 October, 1998, Matthew Shepard - a 21-year old gay, HIV-positive college student - was found barely breathing having been beaten and pistol-whipped. He died five days later.
What followed was a worldwide media frenzy, during which the people of Laramie were forced into addressing issues never before discussed.
Based on journal entries and interviews with townspeople, The Laramie Project is a fascinating and engaging examination of downtown American culture.
Each of the eight players in the company adopts the various personas of the townsfolk they interviewed, using humour at various timely points and portraying the collective guilt of local people in a sensitive manner.
Religion, too, is dealt with in a sympathetic fashion. One character - an extreme, right-wing and bigoted Reverend - is scarily forthright with his views.
Another - a more liberal, lefty, Unitarian Church-like figure - is kind, caring and compassionate towards the horrific events and the emotions and needs of Matthew's friends.
The
Laramie Project has also been made into a film (shown at the London Lesbian and
Gay Film Festival), and into countless school productions all over the States
- helping to eradicate homophobia and give out a strong message as to its consequences.
This production is a moving and emotional portrayal of the magnitude to which some people hate, and is an extraordinary examination of the American psyche at the end of the millennium. Laurence Gibson
The Laramie Project ran until 6 April at London's Cochrane Theatre. Watch out for TV screenings of the film version that appeared at the recent Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in London.
Oxo Tower Gallery, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, 30 April-11 May
One-hundred-and-forty
black and white photographs document women in the world's conflict zones. This
unique record has taken distinguished photojournalist Jenny Matthews 20 years
to complete. From Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, images of mothers, widows,
refugees, and fighters describe the powerful testimony against war. The exhibition
and book is produced by Pluto Press and ActionAid.
Exhibition: contact ActionAid: 020 7561 7614 for details.
Book: contact Hester Rice, Pluto Press: 020 8348 2724.
3-25 May 2003. Music, art, theatre, books & debate, comedy,
dance and more.
Festival tickets: 01273 709709. Visit: www.brighton-festival.org.uk
 Left: Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout (Pieter Dirk-Uys) tells us about 'Foreign Aids'; and right Ronnie Burkett's new puppet show 'Happy' |
Among the many highlights at this year's May Brighton Festival is the chance to enjoy the latest satirical offerings from Pieter Dirk-Uys in 'Foreign Aids' (18 May), and from puppeteer Ronnie Burkett in his new show 'Happy' (22-25 May). Performances by both writers have been featured in PN before. Watch out for reviews next month. Don McCullin's Aids in Africa photo exhibition, Cold Heaven, is also showing for the duration at the Brighthelm Centre.
The diary for this year's festival has something for everyone. Contemporary dance from America, Brazil and Germany, Lithuanian Shakespeare performed, slapstick ragamuffin comedy, traditional opera, world music and New York wave. There's the children parade, lots of circus and a host of writers discuss 'things literary', and art is everywhere.
