Inside The Laramie Project cast
H“In amongst the dark there is some light too. One of my characters provides elements of comic relief, for example” – Josh Lloyd
orsham Smart Artz Theatre’s new stage-show production The Laramie Project finally hits the Horsham Town Hall stage at the weekend.
The Weekly Advertiser caught up with more of the show’s cast days before they usher Wimmera audiences into their seats for opening night on Friday.
The Laramie Project is a famous verbatim stage reproduction of a small American town’s reaction to the hate crime and murder of gay university student Matthew Shephard in 1998.
Cast member Beau Ladlow said he was aware before joining the cast the show’s content was ‘significant’.
“My professional experience was in mental health and with young people in the region. I know it would mean a lot to the LGBTIQ people I was working with to bring this show to life in Horsham.”
Mr Ladlow said he had a lot of respect for director Amy Anselmi’s theatrical and directing process.
“I have worked with her before in different roles and in other capacities and I look forward to being a part of this stage production with her,” he said.
“I have been involved with musical theatre for 20 years now and with this project there was an opportunity to go back to naturalistic theatre techniques and an alternative style of theatre.”
Mr Ladlow said he adapted mannerisms from people he knew, big public personalities and from the media, and applied those nuances to his characters.
Cast member Josh Lloyd said the
crew could not wait to get to the theatre and put on a great show for the Wimmera community.
He said the cast was gelling and comradery was building a collaborative working environment.
He said the production also contained many layers of nuance.
“In amongst the dark there is some light too. One of my characters provides elements of comic relief, for example,” he said.
Mr Lloyd said he looked forward to community conversations that came from the production.
“The show can be viewed as either a mirror or a window,” he said.
Cast member Adam Roche said the Laramie story resonated with him and hit close to home.
“I come from a performing-arts background before I went into radio,” he said.
“I also remember when the original events in Laramie happened.
“So when this opportunity came up it really resonated with me.
“I don’t know if there is a stageshow better than this one for encouraging conversations about the top
ic. So when the opportunity became available, it was a no brainer to throw my hat in the ring.”
Mr Roche said being back on the stage was more ‘immediate’ than working in radio.
“I can spend my afternoons in a darkish room on air and I don’t know how many people I am speaking to or who I am speaking to,” he said.
“On stage you are exposed. You know who you are performing for and all you will have is your memory and cast members beside you to get through it all.”
He said it was important for him to separate the characters from reality as a performer.
“I have to sometimes treat my characters as made-up, which is bizarre because they are real people,” he said.
“But perhaps it was a coping mechanism, to allow me to switch on and off and not be affected by how heavy the show can be.”
Mr Roche said he hoped everyone who saw the production would be affected in some ‘way, shape or form’.
Cast member and director Amy Anselmi said she believed the show remained one of the most reproduced in the world because it did not preach a message.
“It doesn’t hit you over the head with a grand moral judgement but offers a conversation starter,” she said.
“Young people don’t want to just be told by adults; they want to have conversations.
“And this show is a great way to open the conversation.”
Tickets to The Laramie Project’s shows on Friday and Saturday evening are available at Horsham Town Hall box office, online at www. horshamtownhall.com.au, or by calling 5382 9555.
A Friday morning preview of the show is also available at a reduced cost.