DURING the evening of Thursday, February 3, I witnessed a profound piece of storytelling at the Exeter Northcott Theatre in the form of a brand new play by South West Playwright Natalie McGrath.

"The Beat of our Hearts" touched my very soul. The stage itself was laid bare and was as open and honest as the performances and the set was as raw and true as the sublime dialogue.

I went to bed dreaming about it and I woke up still thinking about it, but of course this is exactly what the writer, the cast and the whole creative team had set out to do and they achieved exactly that and all in the space of 80 minutes.

The four actors played their parts superbly and genuinely and we believed them as they delivered with ease the authentic and lyrical text.

We quickly warmed to the individual characters of Quill, Luca, Dove and Val and were soon transfixed on their journeys - feeling their anger, confusion, loss, loneliness, love and ultimately their sense of belonging.

The direction and movement direction, married together, painted the light and the shade perfectly and aesthetically - sometimes the physicality was small and subtle and sometimes big and dynamic but each had their place.

There was intoxicating and at times emotive underscore which only added to the overall brilliance of the piece and along with the exquisite lighting which in turn just added more fuel to a production which is punchy, poignant, powerful, pacy and pertinent in equal measure and it does the LGBTQIA+ proud with its clear message of positivity, hope and solidarity.

"The Beat of our Hearts" is so much more than just a live theatrical experience - it’s an education and a celebration of diversity that deserves to be seen far and wide helping to open people’s eyes to the prejudice, hatred and the misunderstanding that still exists and how by understanding the past and the present we can continue to forge a more positive and accepting future for everyone.

This isn’t just a play for the LGBTQIA+ community in the South West nor is it just a play for the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the country, it’s a play for anyone who has a heart.

Rob Pudner

Entertainingly Different