Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart” Returns To Honour Heroes Of The AIDS Crisis
It has been almost forty years since the Australian premiere took place at the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) in 1989. Now Larry Kramer’s groundbreaking and semi-autobiographical play The Normal Heart returns for the STC 2026 season. This production marks the first season under new Artistic Director Mitchell Butel. He also stars in the production. The play opens at the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House from February 9. It is presented in partnership with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The story behind the play.
The play is set in 1980s New York at the height of the emerging AIDS crisis. It remains one of the most urgent works of contemporary theatre. The narrative traces the early years of the epidemic and the activists who fought to be heard. It is witty and confronting. The play serves as a tribute to the courage of a community in crisis. It reminds us of the power of people coming together and falling in love even when the world seems to be falling apart.
A star-studded cast takes the lead.
Dean Bryant directs this 2026 production. He is an award-winning writer and director known for Hubris And Humiliation. The cast features heavy hitters. STC Artistic Director Mitchell Butel stars alongside Nicholas Brown. You will also see Tim Draxl from Sunset Boulevard and Keiynan Lonsdale from Love, Simon. They are joined by Fraser Morrison and original cast members from the State Theatre Company South Australia (STCSA) production. These include Michael Griffiths and Mark Saturno. Evan Lever and Emma Jones make their Sydney Theatre Company debuts. They will be joined onstage by cellist Rowena Macneish.
At the centre of the story is Ned Weeks. He is a New York writer battling to uncover the truth about the mystery illness affecting his community. Mitchell Butel plays this role. He says it is an honour to perform this play in Sydney for a new generation.
“The Normal Heart is a landmark play from the past that speaks very much to our present and future,” Butel says. “It shines a light on the power and value of community and advocacy, but it is also a deep meditation on authenticity, family, purpose and what it is to love, what it is to fail and what it is to begin again. It is a play that makes me laugh and makes me cry and it’s an honour for me to once more be part of this production that has moved audiences so profoundly.”
Celebrating activism and resilience.
Dean Bryant says he is thrilled to bring this production to Sydney after a critically acclaimed season in South Australia. He notes that Sydney was one of the epicentres of activism during the early AIDS outbreak.
“The Normal Heart celebrates the power and challenges of fighting for the right to survive, honouring the past as well as speaking to the ongoing struggles of the marginalised right now,” Bryant says. “Anchored by Mitchell Butel’s spectacular performance, I’ve rarely seen a play land on an audience with such an emotional punch.”
Partnership with Mardi Gras.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Jesse Matheson says the play represents the festival’s new era and 2026 theme. This theme celebrates roots in protest and visibility.
“The play tells a story that sits at the core of Mardi Gras’ history,” Matheson says. “Of LGBTQIA+ communities coming together in the face of fear, stigma and loss. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ partnership with the Sydney Theatre Company for the 2026 Season unites two cultural institutions to honour those who lived through the AIDS crisis, celebrate the resilience they forged, and remind us all how far we have come and how far we still must go.”
Events to look out for.
Are you planning to see the show during the festival? There are special events scheduled. A special Queer Night takes place on Tuesday, 17 February. This performance includes a post-show panel. The panel will discuss the themes of this classic work. It will also celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community members and allies of the Sydney Theatre Company.
We are also thrilled to see the return of Queer Backstage Tours. These take place at the STC home at Wharf 4/5 in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. You can access theatrical memories of productions from the 1980s to now. You will see set designs and costumes. Tours take place on Thursday, 19 and Thursday 26 February at 5:30 pm.
Tickets for the Sydney Theatre Company production of The Normal Heart are on sale now at sydneytheatre.com.au.
