Heart is a Wasteland by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company

Claire Fermo (as Raye) and Maitland Schnaars as Dan in Heart is a Wasteland by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company
Photo Credit: Jessica Wyld

On a mellow Friday evening my partner and I headed to the Subiaco Arts Centre looking forward to watching “Heart is a Wasteland” by the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company.

An interesting title for a play which caught my attention – about two strangers who meet in outback Australia – Raye (Claire Fermo / Wilman Noongar), a country music singer  doing the pub rounds in remote towns, and Dan (Maitland Schnaars / Nyaki-Nyaki), a FIFO worker with a mysterious past.

As we waited for the play to begin – I enjoyed admiring the striking visuals on the stage – the harshness and redness of the outback dust and the vivid blue purple coloured background of the sky.

Raye kicked off with a song strumming on her guitar – and the show began. 

Heart is a Wasteland is a contemporary modern love story set in the remote outback of Australia where the harshness can get to you. Two strangers have a random encounter which leads to getting to know each other. Not knowing much about one another, they quickly become intertwined, bonding as they discover the positive, dark and challenging aspects of each other’s lives. 

Complexities ensue – judgements arise and personalities clash – but there is chemistry and there is love between the two that leads them to embark on an unexpected road trip and to continue getting acquainted longer than anticipated.

If you are a sucker for a good love story, then you’ll enjoy Heart is a Wasteland by the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company. 

It’s emotional, its relevant to today, our past and future, and whilst sitting in the theatre of the Subiaco Arts Centre, you’ll find yourself on a journey with the characters into the wonder of love, the abyss of loss, and the complexities of culture and belonging, all set within our savage but majestic country.

The ballads throughout by Raye brought a beautiful vibe and a magical touch to an already heartfelt play.

Director Maitland Schnaars and Co-Director Bobbi Henry and writer John Harvey have brought to Perth audiences a special slice about love, loss and belonging and living in the outback from an Indigenous perspective.

Heart is a Wasteland by the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company is on at the Subiaco Arts Centre until 1 November.

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