How to be Brave
*****
Thu 14 Mar, Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff.
At times tragic, at others uplifting and insightful, and at all times thoroughly entertaining, How To Be Brave is a story about what makes us human and the times in life that really test how brave we are.
The main hook of the story is best left as a surprise, but broadly it follows single mother Katie as she explores the city of Newport on a very important day. Along the way, she recounts memories from her past, meets old friends and discovers some very important things about herself, finally re-learning how to be brave.
At its core, How To Be Brave isn’t really a story about lead character Katie. Instead it’s an elaborate love story between writer Siân Owen and the city of Newport.
That’s not to say that the main plot isn’t fantastic, but one of the most striking things about How To Be Brave is that it plays like a tribute act. Newport landmarks bookmark important plot scenes and Katie is as Newport as they come. Love for the city bleeds through every scene, which is remarkable when the main plot surrounding her is so charming.
Working with just some light, some noise and a small circle of space, Laura Dalgleish’s performance as Katie is fantastic from the first minute. Katie is a character pushed to her absolute limit but still manages to be utterly human throughout by cracking jokes, dancing to I Got The Power! and radiating a positive energy that captures the whole room. Dalgleish’s ability here can’t be stated enough.
Part-Newport history lesson, part-family drama and wholly fantastic, How To Be Brave succeeds in everything it tries to do and more.
words George Foster
photo Kirsten McTernan
How To Be Brave is at Chapter Arts Centre until Sat 16th March and tours Wales afterwards. Tickets and information can be found here.