BARE BOARDS BRAVE HEARTS

The only things essential to making extraordinary theatre are extraordinary writing and extraordinary performance. This is central tenet of Bare Boards Brave Hearts, a collection of six performances all featuring lone actors on a set-less, prop-less stage. Other than their pared-back format, the pieces aren’t linked in any particular way. Sharks Can Smell Fea is a tale of Celtic lore in modern day Sydney, It’s That Kind Of Quest explores the mysterious appeal of Justin Bieber, and Unsex Me is an interrogation of modern dating. Bare Boards Brave Hearts is the latest production from subtlenuance, a small, independent Sydney-based theatre company. subtlenuance has won critical praise for previous productions, including 2010’s Life Is Impossible and A Thing Of Beauty. With its simple and daring premise, Bare Boards Brave Hearts may just be another win for the fledgling company. (LH)