Chaos, Craft, and a Cracking Debut
A gripping debut from Theo Shakes, The Play That Gets Louder dives into masculinity, fate, and mayhem with raw emotion, inventive staging, and standout performances. A chaotic, compelling hour of theatre that doesn’t ask for your attention—it demands it.
In his writing debut, The Play That Gets Louder, Theo Shakes presents the peak male experience: getting drunk with your boys, missing Mumsy, and carrying the crushing weight of everything that came before you—and everything still to come.
Tickets were $20–$30, and The Basement Theatre off Queen Street is an intimate space with a very cool vibe. The technical production and physical performance of this piece were masterful. The silent movie-style opening and gradual build-up of noise enhanced the drama rather than competing with it. The set was unique and cleverly used, while the ensemble delivered a visceral, full-bodied performance that transported the audience into a world of chaos and conflict for a gripping 60 minutes.
As a history major, I can spot a half-baked war drama from a mile away—this was decidedly not that. Shakes’ reflections on masculinity and camaraderie in conflict offered a raw and distinctly Kiwi take on what it means to be a man. In a time when masculinity is constantly questioned and reframed, The Play That Gets Louder doesn’t offer a clean answer—it plays these tensions out on a battlefield, literal and emotional, where men are undone, made vulnerable, and, occasionally, held by each other. The way the actors physically embodied war and tension was really great.
The Play That Gets Louder is striking—a fierce writing debut from Shakes and a culmination of excellent acting, direction, and production. It doesn’t ask for your attention—it demands it.
