Oberon from A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act 2, Scene 1 performed by Laura Murphy 

"This is the type of show that could be seen anywhere and could speak to anyone, or at least that’s what my hope, that’s my dream.” 

This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by performer, writer and composer Laura Murphy. Laura shares how she came to discover Shakespeare and her journey dissecting and adapting A Midsummer Night’s Dream into the new Australian pop musical THE LOVERS. She talks about finding those “musical moments”, developing the characters and the creative process in writing a new musical.  

Laura Murphy is a performer, writer and composer whose latest project, The Lovers, will premiere at the Sydney Opera House in October 2022, produced by Bell Shakespeare. She was lyricist and composer for the critically acclaimed Australian musical The Dismissal and the “fierce and fabulous” immersive dance musical Qween Lear. 

She began writing and composing in 2009, creating the music and lyrics for the Channel Nine TV series William and Sparkle’s Magical Tales, in which she also starred as Sparkles the Fairy. She went on to write and compose for several TV programs including Magical Tales: Surprises, Imagination Train and I Am Me. Laura's latest original work, Zombie! The Musical will be presented as part of Hayes Theatre Co's 2023 season. 

Laura’s performance credits include the Australian Tour and World Premiere production of Muriel's Wedding The Musical; Cry Baby with LPD Productions; the Australasian tour of Grease and Hayes Theatre Co's You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown for which Laura received a Sydney Theatre Award. 

THE LOVERS is playing at Sydney Opera House until 20 November 2022. Get your tickets: www.bellshakespeare.com.au/the-lovers