New Voices

New Voices is a new project in which 3rd Year Actors from WAAPA are given the opportunity to devise and perform their own works. This is the second season, the first being in March, and each showcases different members of this final year cohort.

This part features six short works that are original, varied, sharp and exciting. All very well acted, the variety is good and the performance felt much shorter than it actually was - credit to good pace and nicely curated performances.

Sorry Not Sorry!!! is written, directed and performed by George Vickers-Willis and features a drag queen Elle in the aftermath of her partner’s funeral. A well structured, sensitively acted mono-play, we get to know this complex and fascinating character, her alter-ego George, and the man that they loved.

In Good Luck Z, writer/director/performer Harry Pearse bursts through the audience covered in blood, in the middle of killing zombies. Initially schlock horror-comedy in the vein of Shaun of the Dead or Little Monsters - even within the ten minutes or so of this performance, it becomes a show with depth and sincerity. Well performed, my only concern was that we missed a few lines to emotive acting choices.

An interesting blend of monologue and some rather dark stand-up comedy, I’ll Just Have Another features writer/director/actor Mitchell Tharle as Ryan, whose favourite thing to do is drink beer - a habit he has inherited from his father and grandfather. Mitchell’s nicely drawn performance shows us how this habit has impacted other parts of his life. Great use of comedy to gradually reveal something much sadder.

Pocket is a gorgeous little play written, directed and performed by Sebastian Belmont, with devisor and performer Breanna Boyd (a 2020 WAAAPA Graduate). A cute little tale of a chance meeting between strangers at an airport becomes a deeper story of the search for understanding on a much larger scale. Beautiful use of movement, wonderful connections between the two performers and expert explicit and implicit story-telling make this a joy to experience.

Performed on a bare stage, in very simple costuming I Carry That Too, written, directed and performed by Emelia Corlett, is a raw, well acted story of addiction and deep shame. A young woman avoiding concerned voice mails from her brother reveals past trauma, her attempts to cope and the despair with which she lives. A strong performance.

Coach and Horses, written, directed and performed by Gulliver McGrath, is a great way to end the evening. A rolling tale of an evening out with colleagues in London’s Soho, Gulliver uses quick switches of accents and posture to nicely create a variety of characters, in this easy-to-watch and engaging piece.

New Voices is a great opportunity for WAAPA actors to develop the skills needed to generate their own work and consequently their own employment when necessary. A great initiative, this production also reveals some considerable talent in this area. A pleasure to watch.

Kimberley Shaw