heartbeat.

this is a performance.

‘heartbeat.’ tells the real stories of those attempting to create a career in the arts long after everybody else has grown up.

blending theatre, spoken word, music and verbatim elements, this debut show from ‘perhaps, a theatre company.’ follows five west australian artists as they desperately try to find meaning in their role as a performer. ‘heartbeat.’ explores the power of art in a world that favours the monotonous, returning both the audience and the performers to the magic of childhood and the thing that connects us all: the all-consuming, undeniable desire to create.

you’ve felt it too, right?

★★★★★ “The most authentic and honest performance I’ve seen this season.” – Fringefeed 2023

cast & crew

lead artist & playwright
producer

emmett aster (he/him)

directors

jessie kaitlan (she/they)

jules burton (she/her)

stage manager

ella thompson (she/her)

assistant producer

tea lowry (they/she)

set & costume designer

jessica canakis (she/her)

sound designer
marketing manager

brindy donovan

performers

rachel abelha (she/her)

emmett aster (he/him)

brindy donovan

robbie fieldwick (he/they)

nashy mz (she/her)

official reviews

can you feel it? your heartbeat? that ever-pulsating life force that connects you to your passions, the world, people.

if your wanderings lead you to moana hall at the right time, on the right night you will find that the heritage listed building has a great gatsbyesque vibe. at one end of the room there are columns and arches filled with bottles of spirits and liquors as well as green velvet-clad circular booths. and at the other end of the room is where “perhaps, a theatre company.” have crafted their stage.

fairy lights are haphazardly shaped around the perimeter and sometimes the audience may shift themselves slightly onto the stage and the players spill into and out of the audience, constantly playing with the fourth wall that never really existed and if it ever did it is certainly taken apart piece by piece in this production that effectively speaks to the hearts in the audience through storytelling.

we are introduced to five players and four off-siders who appear to be responsible for production. however, as music builds, lights pulsate and sound moves through the space it is a little unclear as to who is responsible for what, the vibe feels like an ethereal, spontaneous, pulsating, co-creation. it feels like a heartbeat…

tortured artists is an analogy used far too often and it would be easy for a piece such as this one to feel self indulgent but instead this performance authentically spoke to the experiences of artists that connect deeply to the experiences of humanity. this piece commented on people hurting and sacrificing parts of themselves to exist, people hurting others and pointing to burnout, people desperately wanting to be seen, heard and held.

“heartbeat.” feels like fireworks, a gathering crowd, moments of play and childlike dreaming, poignancy, calamity, inertia, stylised movement, times of light and dark, moving shadows on the wall and then shining incredibly bright before there is peace. it is a phenomenally special fringe-find and i hope we will see much more of this production company as they keep creating, keep dreaming and being the most authentic and honest performance i’ve seen this season.

joy norton

fringefeed

audience testimonials

i saw this show in mandurah for its first run and again on monday and i can easily say it is one of the best pieces of theatre i have ever seen. these amazing artists have created something magical and authentic.

'greatest of all time' audience react

fringe world 2023

i have no words, this show was amazing. it hit so close to home and has got me thinking about life and what i want to do after this year. i was close to tears many times during this show and i would recommend it to anyone who’s on the fence about seeing. truly amazing.

'emotional rollercoaster' audience react

fringe world 2023

the rawness and authenticity of heartbeat moved me to tears many times. a poetic mediation on love, light, and art, and a journey into shining light into our dark spaces and vulnerabilities in order to illuminate what it truly means to be ‘alive’.

'greatest of all time' audience react

fringe world 2023

such an inspiring and thought provoking work. It moved me to tears at several points, especially in the times i saw myself and my own thoughts on being an artist reflected. a must see for anyone who has considered themself an artist at any point in their lives, even if they don’t currently.

'emotional rollercoaster' audience react

fringe world 2023

whoa. that was a powerful trip through everything important in life. everything that has and brings meaning. everything that stirs the soul. everything we’re taught we can’t be because we need to be something else.

'greatest of all time' audience react

fringe world 2023

very thought evoking and hit too close to home. this is a must see for any artist or performer in perth! 

'emotional rollercoaster' audience react

fringe world 2023