In 2024 The Court Theatre launched their first Rainbow Festival which coincided with Christchurch Pride. The event features performances, workshops, talks and more over a weekend. For 2025 we are evolving it further. The Court Theatre have been granted the rights to perform The Laramie Project for one special performance, this will be on Sunday 23 March at 5.30pm.

In this presentation, rather than eight performers playing multiple characters, each character will be played by a different person, that means there are 65 roles to fill ranging from one or two lines to much more substantial roles.

Please read the following notes carefully:

  • Due to the staging and the timeframe, this will be performed with scripts in hand. There will be no need to be off book.
  • Rehearsals will take place at the following times:
    Sunday 16 February, 4pm – 9pm [Welcome, the process and read through]
    Thursday 20 February, 5pm – 9pm [Act One]
    Sunday 23 February, 6pm – 9pm [Act Two]
    Tuesday 25 February, 6pm – 9.30pm [Act Three]
    Thursday 28 February, 6pm – 9.30pm [Act One]
    Sunday 2 March, 6pm – 9pm [Act Two]
    Monday 3 March, 6pm – 9.30pm [Act Three]
    Tuesday 4 March, 6pm – 9.30pm [Put it together]
    Tuesday 11 March, 6pm – 9.30pm [Run whole show]
    Saturday 15 March, 12pm – 5pm [Run whole show]
    Sunday 16 March, 3pm – 7pm [Run whole show]
    Monday 17 March, 6pm – 10pm [Run whole show]
    Tuesday 18 March, 6pm – 10pm [Tech rehearsal]
    Wednesday 19 March, 6pm – 10pm [Dress rehearsal with audience]
    Sunday 23 March, – Performance 5.30pm
  • You do NOT need to have had any theatre experience to be involved.
  • In person auditions will take place in January and will be very simple and low pressure.
  • Due to content participants must be over the age of 16 as of audition date.
  • All roles are voluntary and form part of the community aspect of this project.
  • All roles are available for anyone and while we want as many people as possible from the LGBTQIA+ community to participate in the project, allies and queer/LGBTQIA+ positive persons should also apply.
  • Please note that the catalyst of the play is that of a gay hate crime, however the script and how it has been created is done so in a non-judgemental way and has been pieced together to try and understand from all perspectives why events like this happened. Some people will play the roles of those found guilty of the crime and others play characters that have views that may be confronting.