On March 16, 2003, Evergreen State College student Rachel Corrie found herself between an Israeli bulldozer and a Palestinian house. A member of the International Solidarity Movement, the peace activist refused to budge. Ultimately, it was a decision that would cost her her life, as she was run over and killed where she stood in the Gaza Strip.
Eugene’s Lord Leebrick Theatre Company debuted its production of “My Name is Rachel Corrie” Friday night, an intimate play that follows her up to that last, and arguably most important, decision she made in her life.
“My Name is Rachel Corrie” is an intimate story that follows Corrie’s early life in America growing up in Olympia and attending Evergreen State College as a young activist. A diary and e-mails then follow Corrie as she travel to the Gaza Strip. Corrie is essentially the only actor in the production, as the play’s story arc is an in-depth and emotional look at Corrie’s life.
“I think the purpose behind the play is to paint the portrait of a passionate, idealistic peace activist who recognized as a person of privilege that their obligations are to help those who are less privileged in the world,” said Craig Willis, the theater’s artistic director.
Rachel Corrie is played by Nicole Trobaugh, while the only other cast member, a witness, is played by Max Maltz.
The first production of “My Name is Rachel Corrie” started after Corrie’s death when Katharine Viner and Alan Rickman (well-known for his role as Severus Snape from the Harry Potter films) edited Corrie’s diary and e-mails with the permission of Corrie’s parents. Rickman premiered the play at the Royal Court Theatre in London in spring 2005.
The play won the Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Director, Best New Play and Best Solo Performance by actress Megan Dodds. Since then, the script has had numerous stagings around the world, including productions in Ireland, Peru, Canada and America. Oregon State University Theater staged its own production in 2009.
Located on Charnelton Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues downtown, Lord Leebrick’s intimate seating makes the play ideal for the location that has been in operation for 18 years. Standing as a company that brings artistic and diverse works that challenge its audience, Lord Leebrick Theatre Company fits “My Name is Rachel Corrie” snugly into the theater’s overall message to its audiences. The decision for this specific play came from a number of factors.
“Our mission is to present bold, provocative theater in our intimate space,” Willis said. “We are often looking to try and create opportunities for community dialogue for current significant topics in our community or globally.”
Such a message is something that lies at the core of “My Name is Rachel Corrie.” The diaries and e-mails show the passion Corrie had for creating peace. As the play continues rotation, Corrie’s beliefs live long after her tragic death.
“Looking at this story, hopefully it might encourage others to consider not just the situations just in the Middle East, but also in Africa and Asia and wherever you may find people cut by warring ideologies or governments,” Willis said.

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