American playwright, author, film producer and gay rights activist, Larry Kramer, began his career, (after finishing his BA at Yale), rewriting scripts for Columbia Pictures. In London he worked for United Artists. He wrote the screenplay for the 1969 film Women In Love for which he received an Academy Award nomination.
In 1980 Kramer co-founded the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) – now the world’s largest private organisation assisting people living with AIDS. The apathy and bureaucratic paralysis around him resulted in him writing his play, THE NORMAL HEART. It was first produced at The Public Theatre in New York City in 1985.
The Sydney Theatre Company staged the play in 1989, under the direction of Wayne Harrison.
This STC’s new 2026 production of THE NORMAL HEART is cleverly directed by Dean Bryant and stars Mitchell Butel, who has recently taken over as Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company. Butel plays the lead, Ned Weeks, with compelling urgency and passion. His character Ned is based on Kramer’s own experience.
The play is set in 1981 New York City. Kramer’s alter ego Ned is amongst the earliest activists who sees the horror unfolding around him – a mystery illness that is killing his friends and the gay community with brutal speed.
Ned begins to fight the inactivity, ignorance and prejudice of the governmental, medical and press establishments. He has a small group of helpers in the GMHC in a dingy back room where anger and frustration are ever present. Ned is not a fan of the sexual promiscuity that is rampant and he finds himself reprimanding his reckless friends. He sends out a message to stop having sex. He is mocked and ignored.
One of Ned’s allies is Dr Emma Brookner (played with warmth and wisdom by Emma Jones). She cannot shake the system but looks after the sick.
It is a play that has great value. I personally had many memories resurface and the appalling attitudes around then have fortunately changed a lot. The first act is quite wordy but sets up the story and characters. The second act picks up as a result of the wonderfully crafted action and direction. The play is very moving.
The set design and costumes by Jeremy Allen are appropriately right for the early 1980s. Especially for a group of activists whose cause is so misunderstood and underfunded.
Hilary Kleinig’s compositions and Andrew Howard’s sound design sets the mood. Also kudos goes to the pianist, Michael Griffiths (who plays a few roles as well) and the cellist, Rowena Macneish, who do a wonderful job setting the mood.
The rest of the cast are of equal talent. They reflect the era and sense of shock so well. Tim Draxl, Nicholas Brown, Evan Lever, Keiynan Lonsdale, Fraser Morrison and Mark Saturno as Ned’s brother, Ben, should be congratulated for their diverse and passionate performances.
THE NORMAL HEART is worth seeing. It is certainly a great insight into how unfair life can be. It is also uplifting as we know how far the acknowledgment of this virus has come. It is also uplifting as we know how far medical science has come in treating the condition and in saving lives.
THE NORMAL HEART plays at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House until the 14th March 2026.
