We be giants with our tiny, tiny love.

At BATS Theatre, there’s a little bit of a celebration going on. It’s minimal, quiet, and mostly unspoken, but if you look in the right corners of the right places, you’ll find Declarations of Love (And Other Useless Things) shouting its little heart out. Created and performed by Emma Maguire and Hamish Boyle, this is a show that’s full of lively sketches, poignant moments and referential comedy that keeps the audience engaged throughout.

One of the most striking things about the stage is how… silent it is. Aside from a small sofa off-centre, the stage is devoid of any promise of props, set pieces, or stage design. There are moments where props are brought into play, but much of the scene is painted via objectwork, performer movement, and lighting. It’s always impressive when minimal staging like this succeeds and relies entirely on the cast to make the show feel alive. Luckily, the pair of actors is more than up to the task.

Emma Maguire always looks like they’re in total control of their show, very comfortable in its vision, and the execution thereof. They fully commit to the various characters they play, and consistently look proud of the work they’ve created here. Their playful nature brings the stage to life with vibrant expressions and cheeky gesturing.

Opposite them is Hamish Boyle, who brings bursts of energy when needed with raw acting talent that demonstrates his insane performance range. Whether it’s a Nice Guy who’s not getting the messages he wants, or a vulnerable house husband unable to comprehend his wife’s bloodlust, he always nails the delivery.

Together, the two complement each other’s energies perfectly. Emma reaches for creative heights while Hamish is always ready to ground the scenes to support them. Their chemistry feels so real, especially in the more tender moments of the show. Their timings are impeccable and transitions smooth. Both of them carry each other through a myriad of sketches that weave into each other effortlessly.

Due to the structure of the show, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact throughline. Some sketches are parodies of other shows, some are pure scenework where every line matters. The fragmented nature of the show lends itself to a janky tone, one where it’s difficult to tell if you’re supposed to be laughing or gasping. And that’s love, baby. It’s wonderful at its best and never easy to read. The audience feels like they’re playing with boundaries, figuring out how they really feel, until they involuntarily let out a guttural laugh. This is a really funny show when it wants to be, and it does that by being the exact thing it wants to convey.

Declarations of Love (And Other Useless Things) is a sweet, fun show that’s bursting with creativity and minimalist theatre magic. It’s not setting out to dish out any hot takes about love, instead choosing to remind us of the smaller loves in life that accent the day-to-day rush of modern life. A celebration of tiny love, no matter how small.

But it’s our kind of love.

Declarations of Love (And Other Useless Things) is running from the 26th to the 30th of August at BATS Theatre. Tickets available from the BATS website.

Disclosure: As a somewhat active member of the Wellington performing arts community, I may be quite familiar with a number of the performers in this show. Having said that, I am not a liar, and there is zero bias in my reviews, shut up.

Also, tickets were provided to me for free by the production. Literally changes nothing, though.