"THIS SHOW IS PURE JOY"
"IT'S LIKE HANGING OUT WITH A MATE WHO HAS A LOT OF FUN STORIES
AND A COUPLE OF HARDER TRUTHS TO TELL, TOO"
"A MAGNETIC STAGE PRESENCE WHOSE RAW HONESTY IS INFECTIOUS AND DISARMING.
THERE’S PASSION HERE, CRAFT HERE, AND TALENT… OODLES OF TALENT"
Here's a cute lil' vid of our family and friends, old and new, celebrating our first cabaret collaboration together.
PLEASE NOTE: The "name" of the performer you may hear our friends referring to, is now pronounced ..."BEAR"
BENEATH THESE BLANKETS, THERE ARE STORIES OF HUMAN FLUIDITY AND VALIDITY READY TO BE UNCOVERED. SUPPORTED BY A LIVE ELECTRO/ACOUSTIC BAND, BEAR MEANDERS THROUGH THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF THEIR LIFE, COMING INTO THEIR QUEERNESS, PROCESSING THEIR SEXUAL EXPERIENCES GOOD AND BAD, AND RECLAIMING THEIR IDENTITY. BY EXPLORING CONCEPTS OF SHARING INTIMATE TRUTHS THROUGH MOMENTS OF GIVING, GRIEVING, RECEIVING, AND SURRENDER THIS WORK OFFERS EACH OF US PERMISSION TO POPULATE SPACE IN OUR OWN STORYTELLING.
Bear Baxter's debut show is akin to being in on the ground floor while a rocket is about to take off. A multi-disciplined performer with heartfelt honesty, Share My Blankets runs the gamut of humour to pathos, romance to rage whilst never missing its truest intention of being a show about humanity—a winner. At the ripe old age of 23 years, Bear Baxter commands the stage with their face besmirched with glitter and makeup. Dressed in a deep purple and washed in pink light, they open their show with a belting rendition of their own composition and the show's title song, Share My Blankets, a song they wrote when they were 18. Thus begins our journey into the inner workings of self-titled queer-non-binary-femme-tomboy-dreamboat. Recanting tales from a life in Brisbane, finding love, lust, sex, themself, then losing it all and being on the road to finding it again, it’s the magnetic and energetic presence of Baxter that makes this intimate show so engaging. From that smile to their brutal honesty about themself, the spectacular set of songs where you can joyously hear the channelling of Joni Mitchell (Baxter is one performer that can belt out a tune), their rage against the same-sex marriage survey and, more urgently, being comfortable in feeling all things/anything because that’s what makes you human. Under the direction of Dirk Hoult, Share My Blankets keeps things moving (there’s never a dull moment), and in a particular confessional sequence fusing synth cues and random facts, there’s a sophistication in its simplicity as it echoes the machinations of a mind in crisis. Share My Blankets is watching a star on the rise. Baxter is a magnetic stage presence whose raw honesty is both infectious and disarming. There’s a passion here, craft here, and talent… Oodles of talent. Best get in on the ground floor now and see this show!
REVIEW: The West End Magazine | Nina Culley
Share My Blankets is a heart-warming performance by Titled Projects as part of the MELT Festival at Brisbane’s Powerhouse from Thursday, 17 May to Saturday, 19 May. The act showcased a combination of live sound, games, comedy and heartfelt messages. Supported by a live electro and acoustic two-piece band, Bear explores the past five years of their life, from coming into queerness to opening up about their sexual experiences. The work is based on Bear’s Tumblr and other online posts and features gorgeously warm vocals and intimate moments of truths. Bear, along with their band of equally fabulous members, sported funky outfits and outrageous glitter. Though it was not just the outfits that provided the performance with a unique charm, it was the warmth and radiance of the performers that left you wanting more. The crew are a part of Tilted Projects, which showcases untold queer stories that reflect the contemporary landscape. This definitely showed, from the laugh out loud moments to the quiet ones that filled the space with grounding realism. The group also added some great local colour by referencing favourite hot-spot Rics Bar. There was even a quick game of pass the parcel towards the end of the performance, which required audience members to read out folded bits of paper containing questions for the performers. This got everyone involved, and by the end of it, the space felt so intimate, as if everyone had just made a roomful of friends. Overall, this performance was an endearing and heartwarming show, with the trio possessing the ability to make every member of the audience laugh and feel comfortable simultaneously. Though the tale was somewhat similar to other “coming of age” stories, it was done with individual flair and charisma. May 25, 2018
REVIEW: Keith Gow
Bear Baxter wants to share their life, their stories and their blankets with you. They're honest and open and young. They're also non-binary, queer and polyamorous. And the kind of person you want to sit cross-legged on a cushion on the floor for. The band was jamming as the small audience made their way into space. Bear is playing the guitar, rocking out with their friends on drums and keyboard. Bear is a great singer, and they charm everyone with the welcoming anthem “Share My Blankets,” which is an adorable, comforting song that they wrote when they were eighteen. This show is like hanging out with a mate who has many fun stories and a couple of harder truths to tell, too. But mostly, Bear's story is a hell of a good time. How can you not enjoy a show that includes Polly the Polyamorous Parrot and a game of pass the parcel? Share My Blankets is a colourful show about not fitting in and not giving a fuck. In some ways, it feels transgressive, but then you realise it shouldn’t feel that way at all. Bear makes us feel comfortable and invites us to feel passion and feel anger, mostly to feel alive. This show is pure joy. September 22, 2017
