A toxic tale of privilege and ambition, seven NIDA alumni are staging John Logan’s Never the Sinner at the Loading Dock Theatre, QTOPIA from 8 – 24 October. Set in Chicago, 1924, this gripping true crime story is directed by Kurtis Laing (Directing, 2024) who leads a NIDA-trained team, with Josh Hammond (Stage and Screen Performance, 2019), Jack Bridges (Acting, 2024), Harlee Timms (Acting, 2022), Alex Travers (Acting, 2024) and Frey Kenay (Stage and Screen Performance, 2019) bringing the characters and courtroom drama to life, alongside Stage Manager Matthew Phillips (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2025). With so many talented graduates involved in this sinister production, it’s been an exciting opportunity to talk about their roles, red flags and what it’s been like reunite some of NIDA community to retell this piece of history.
What drew you to Never the Sinner and what are some of the central themes?
DIRECTOR KURTIS LAING: Never the Sinner by John Logan tells the true story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy young men who murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks in Chicago in 1924, and the notorious trial that followed. Written in the 1980s, the play sits somewhere between a courtroom drama and a character study, exploring privilege, masculinity, sexuality, morality and what happens when people believe that being wealthy, intelligent or exceptional places them above the rules. I was drawn to how complicated Logan allows the material to be, particularly the uncomfortable queer relationship at its centre, and the question of whether understanding someone’s motivations can ever excuse their actions.
What do you hope audiences take away after seeing the show?
DIRECTOR KURTIS LAING: I don’t necessarily want audiences to leave with a particular answer, but with questions about responsibility, privilege and the ways we construct stories around people who commit terrible acts. What has been particularly startling during this process is how relevant those conversations about male entitlement remain: the play isn’t commenting on contemporary cases of sexual violence or male violence because it was written decades ago, but its examination of men who believe their wealth, intelligence, status or attractiveness entitles them to do whatever they want continues to resonate in an uncomfortable way. Hopefully audiences leave having had a compelling night at the theatre but still arguing about some of those questions on the way home.
What have you enjoyed most about working with this particular cast and crew?
DIRECTOR KURTIS LAING: I’ve been incredibly lucky to have Jack, Alex, Frey, Harlee, Matt and Josh, all NIDA alumni, as such a huge part of this production, and it has been really special to have so many people from the NIDA community working together. NIDA IS the people you meet while studying there and then connect with after you graduate. It would be foolish of me to not mention Josh Hammond and Laila Chesterman who’s have both been absolutely integral not just to this production but to the entire 2026 Good Time Theatrics year, our biggest yet as an independent company! And of course, Rosie Slaviero, our producer and set designer has genuinely been the glue holding all of us together. Josh gets a particular shout out as a fellow NIDA alumnus and someone who has been alongside me through so much of this year. Working with these three is a joy and I couldn’t be more grateful that our industry includes Josh, Laila, and Rosie.
Finally, we also have the immense privilege of having someone as respected and experienced as Mark Langham bringing his generosity and craft into the room. His Clarence Darrow will be a definite highlight!
Actors:
Tell us about your character and what you’ve enjoyed most about embodying them.
JOSH HAMMOND (Richard Loeb): Given the play is based on historical events and real figures, the thorough research component has been immensely engaging, and I feel truly grateful for the chance to stretch myself as an actor with such a production.
JACK BRIDGES (Nathan Leopold Jr.): Finding a voice for this character helps me balance all that he is. It’s his voice touches his life philosophy so well and presents how he comes across to the people around him, in moments his honesty breaks through, that’s fun to work with.
HARLEE TIMMS (Robert Crowe): Finding a voice for this character helps me balance all that he is. It’s his voice touches his life philosophy so well and presents how he comes across to the people around him, in moments his honesty breaks through, that’s fun to work with.
ALEX TRAVERS (Reporter 3): My primary role in the show is a woman named Denise, she’s a hard-working reporter who helps guide the audience through the story’s timeline of events. I’ve really, really enjoyed working on the track for this show: it’s fast paced, driven, and really testing my memorisation skills (a LOT of drawings have been made to map out the movements of this show haha). I’m super excited for audiences to get a taste of the world, and hopefully myself and my other iconic reporter friends can bring them along on this intriguing and powerful true story.
FREY KENAY (Reporter 1): I’ve really enjoyed stepping into a role that involves playing multiple characters and finding what sets them apart from each other using voice and movement! It’s super fun!
What’s your character’s biggest red flag?
JOSH HAMMOND (Richard Loeb): His arrogance, his entitlement, his privilege without consequence.
JACK BRIDGES (Nathan Leopold Jr.): I would say… the fact that he reads to much Nietzsche, also that he has a history of killing birds and digging up their nest. Also, he killed someone… so there’s also that.
HARLEE TIMMS (Robert Crowe): Probably that he’s worried with what the outcome of the trial will do to his career.
ALEX TRAVERS (Reporter 3): Yawning with her mouth open, in a court room no less.
FREY KENAY (Reporter 1): Reporter 1 – Nosey. Sergeant Gortland – he’s a cop. Dr White – can’t read a room. Bailiff – loud.
What has it been like connecting with other NIDA graduates on this show?
JOSH HAMMOND (Richard Loeb): The greatest privilege of the process, it is a joy to build together with a team of passionate, and delightful emerging artists.
JACK BRIDGES (Nathan Leopold Jr.): It’s fun and familiar, the people I have worked with before, I fall into a rhythm with them because I know where their energy sits. Then I get to learn how they have developed after leaving NIDA. Even the people who I haven’t worked with at all, we have had similar experiences in training in the same building, but all take slightly different approaches to the work.
HARLEE TIMMS (Robert Crowe): It’s been fantastic working with other grads, some that I knew from my time at NIDA and some that I’ve seen out doing shows themselves. It’s great to have that shared understanding of techniques and abilities when you’re getting a piece of work off the page and onto the floor.
ALEX TRAVERS (Reporter 3): It feels like coming home! It’s such a nice feeling to know you have a shared history of connection with people in the project; it just makes everything that much more exciting. Plus, NIDA grads are awesome and make really cool work, so what more do I need to say??
FREY KENAY (Reporter 1): It has been absolutely delightful connecting and working with other NIDA graduates, this time outside the building, in a professional sense. I am also so glad to have worked with those didn’t attend at the same time as me! So many lovely, talented humans.
What makes this story compelling to you as a Stage Manager?
STAGE MANAGER MATTHEW PHILLIPS: As a Stage Manager, you get to watch the story all come together over time. From the initial readings, through the rehearsal process, and finally the technical process. What draws me to Never The Sinner is how evidently true the story is throughout history, not only as this story is based on the true events in 1924, but also with themes of abuse of power and privilege, especially in young men, still being a contributing factor in our society. I am always most drawn to texts that have this truth embedded in the writing, and I thrive on being able to watch these stories develop in unique and inspiring ways over the course of the rehearsal period.
What has been your favourite moment working on this show so far?
STAGE MANAGER MATTHEW PHILLIPS: Rehearsals are always the most engaging period for a Stage Manager, where you are really the one steering the ship, ensuring activities are keeping to schedule, ensuring people are arriving on time, as well as keeping up with the script and being able to jump in at any stage in case a performer needs a line read during a scene. What is so joyous about this period is how closely you work with everyone, from the Director, Actors, Designers and Makers, you have the responsibility to be the centre of it all as a Stage Manager.
Book tickets to Never the Sinner at The Loading Doc Theatre, QTOPIA between 8 – 24 October.