Laura Lethlean
Laura Lethlean is an Australian writer and theatre maker. Her work has been described as “conscious drama that boasts great stage and lighting design, puppetry and visual reveals.” (Cameron Woodhead, the Age, 2013).
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Laura Lethlean

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Laura Lethlean
Playwright

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Laura Lethlean
 PLAYWRIGHT | THEATRE MAKER

QALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Fine Arts – Writing for Performance. National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), Sydney 2015.

  • Bachelor of Arts – Melbourne University, Double Major in Media and Communications and Creative Writing, Melbourne 2013.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Current               

  • Hobsons Bay City Council June 2021 – current
    Projects Officer for the Family Engagement and Learning Team at the Community Learning and Service Centres

  • The Anchor Theatre Company May 2015 – current. Co - Artistic Director with Katie Cawthorne.

Previous            

  • Hobsons Bay City Council Children & Youth Programs Officer (2020 – 2021)

  • Hobsons Bay City Council Programs and Customer Service Officer (2017 – 2020)

  • Melbourne Theatre Company Front of House Officer (2016 – 2019)

  • Howard Fine Acting Studio Venue and bookings officer (2015 – 2017)

WRITING AND PRODUCTION CREDITS

The Aphrodite Complex

·      Libretto commissioned by the Sydney Chamber Opera, 2023

·      Composed by Nico Muhly

Pillow Fight

·      Script produced as a co-production between The Anchor and Gasworks Arts Park, 2022

·      Winner of the New Zealand Fringe Festival Tour Ready Award 2022

·      Toured to New Zealand Fringe Festival in March 2023

·      Toured to Castlemaine State Festival in March 2023

·      Will tour to Glen Ira Story Tellers Festival in July 2023

·      Recipient of the Development Series by Elbow Room 2021

·      Shortlisted for the Patrick White Award 2021

·      Shortlisted for the Max Afford Playwrights Award 2020


Body Horror

·      Developed and programmed at La Mama’s Explorations Spring Season, 2022.

·      Directed by Katie Cawthorne


Honey

·      Created in collaboration with the National Theatre Drama School 3rd Year students.

·      Commissioned by and staged at The National Theatre Drama School 2021.

·      Directed by Katie Cawthorne


The Cockatoo

·      Commissioned by the Victorian Seniors Festival 202

·      Directed by Katie Cawthorne


Circuit

·      Toured to the Art Not Apart Festival Canberra 2020.

·      Developed with the support of the Blue Stone Church Arts Space in Footscray.   

·      Directed by Katie Cawthorne


The Three Graces

·      Produced by The Anchor at Theatre Works 2019.

·      Awarded long form development funding from Play Writing Australia.

·      Dramaturgy by Jenny Medway.

·      Mentored by Robyn Archer, AO, for post-production support.

·      Directed by Katie Cawthorne.                


Fading

·      Commissioned by Canberra Youth Theatre

·      Created in collaboration with the CYT Company Ensemble 2018.

·      Directed by Katie Cawthorne at the Canberra Theatre Centre 2018.


Two Hearts

·      Produced by The Anchor, directed by Jessica Arthur at Kings Cross Theatre 2018.

·      Produced by The Anchor, directed by Katie Cawthorne at The Butterfly Club 2019.

·      Published by Australian Plays Transform 2019.


The Space Between the Fuel and the Fire 

·      produced at NIDA’s Studio Theatre 2016

·      Directed by Constantine Costi.

·      Published by No Passport Press 2016.


How Are You

·      Produced by The Anchor, at the Public Theatre, Canberra, for the DESIGNcanberra Festival 2015.            

·      Directed by Jessica Arthur. 

Plastic Pacific

·      Produced and directed by Laura Lethlean at The Substation, Newport.

·      Programmed as a part of The Substation’s Melbourne International Fringe Festival season in 2013.

·      Winner of the 2013 Get It On award

DEVELOPMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

She Writes Collective (Theatre Works)

·      Selected as one of Theatre Works’ 2022 - 2023 She Writes Collective

·      Dramaturgically supported to write new play, Plunder

·      Plunder to be read at Theatre Works’ Radical Acts Festival 2023

Australian Plays Transform

·      Recipient of the 2019 postproduction mentorship for The Three Graces, mentored by Robyn Archer, AO.

·      Recipient of the Play Writing Australia’s long form development for The Three Graces, dramaturgical mentorship by Jenni Medway 2017 – 2019.

·      Featured guest for Play Writing Australia’s Master Class Series with Joanna Murray Smith 2017.

Rope Burn

·      Recipient of the City of Port Philip Cultural Development Fund Recovery Grant 2021.

Creative Victoria

·      Community consultant 2018.

Maribyrnong City Council

·      Incumbent recipient of the Artbox Artist in Residence program, 2024

·      Three-week residency and development at the Bluestone Church Arts Space for Little Bitch, with The Anchor 2020

·      Artistic Resident for Memory Cycle project at the Rayleigh Road Community Centre 2017.

Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)

·      Selected for ATYP Fresh Ink 2016.

·      Selected for ATYP National Studio 2016.

SPEAKING OPPORTUNITITES

·      Guest speaker for the Arts at Williamstown High School, International Women’s Day 2017.

·      Guest Speaker for the National Young Writers Festival 2016.

·      Guest Speaker for Cracked Theatre Festival 2016.

·      Guest Speak for Flat Chats Story Series, Loop Bar, 2016.

·      Guest Speaker for Jane Street Theatre’s 50-Year Anniversary at NIDA 2016.

PUBLISHED WRITING

·      The Wedding Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature, 2020

·      You Don't Know How Hooked You Are on Plastic Until You Go a Month Without Vice Magazine, 2020

·      Two Hearts Australian Plays Transform, 2019

·      The Space Between the Fuel and the Fire NoPassport Press, 2016