Playwright and actress Nikita Waldron delivers a commanding performance in Amber, a thought-provoking and emotionally layered one-woman-led play exploring the romantic misadventures and inner life of a young Sydney woman. Waldron, who also wrote the script, is on stage for the full 90-minute production, holding the audience in the palm of her hand with equal parts vulnerability, wit and charm.
Amber is bright, likeable and emotionally raw – a young woman shaped by a generation raised on social media’s curated ideals of love and life. Her pursuit of romance follows a self-imposed checklist of how and when things should happen. It’s a narrative many young women will find deeply familiar, and one that older audience members may recognise in hindsight.
Waldron’s script is peppered with humour and razor-sharp observations about modern dating, self-worth, and the often-dizzying path to adulthood. The writing is clever and culturally relevant, with a rhythm that feels natural but purposeful. Dialogue zings with energy – smart, snappy, and fluently delivered. While some swearing enhanced the realism, a slightly lighter touch might have been just as effective.
Directed by Mehhma Malhi, and produced by Zoe Hollyoak, the play has a tight cast of five. The four supporting actors seamlessly slip between multiple roles, each performance distinct and believable. Esha Jessy, a NIDA graduate from Perth, plays Gabrielle, Amber’s best friend, with warmth and authenticity. Fellow NIDA grads Ashan Kumar, Harry Stacey, and Kurt Ramjan round out the ensemble, portraying Amber’s lovers and friends with nuance and credibility.
The play charts Amber’s life from puberty through early adulthood, following her turbulent journey through insecurity, grief, self-doubt, and finally, emotional clarity. Initially self-absorbed and desperate to fit the mould of ‘perfect love’, Amber spirals into anxiety and over-analysis, losing herself in the process of pleasing others.
Notably, the play introduces a spiritual dimension through Amber’s Catholic faith. Her evolving relationship with God parallels her romantic struggles, offering a subtle but poignant layer to her development – particularly in a moment where she rejects God, mirroring her rejection of the men who fail to meet her emotional needs.
Waldron’s diction is impeccable – every word lands clearly, a refreshing experience in an intimate theatre space. Her ability to hold extended monologues with dynamic pacing is impressive. However, the occasional longer pause between emotional beats could have helped punctuate the tension and allow the audience to fully absorb each turning point.
The Set design by Hailley Hunt is minimal yet inventive. The clever use of windows expands the visual space, while fluid prop transitions and subtle lighting shifts by Lighting Designer Izzy Morrisey lend the production a cinematic texture. Sound Designer and Composer Madeleine Picard’s strategically timed bursts of sound enhance the atmosphere without ever feeling intrusive.
The Old Fitz Theatre’s compact setting – just 55 seats – draws the audience into Amber’s inner world. It’s a venue that suits this intimate, confessional style of theatre perfectly.
‘Amber’ was the winner of the Rebel Wilson Comedy Commission (2021) through ATYP (Australian Theatre for Young People). As one critic aptly noted, the play “derails romantic comedies from the Brat-Pack era to the noughties and rebuilds a new kind of Rom-Com fit for our times.”
Waldron herself described the commission as “outrageously exciting,” recounting how she danced in the gym, then cried, laughed, and ate celebratory ice cream when she shared the news with her family. “Making people laugh and connect with something meaningful through theatre is my favourite thing to do,” she told ATYP.
Practicalities: The theatre is well air-conditioned – bring a light cardigan if you run cold. Audience demographics spanned two distinct groups: twenty-somethings who related directly to Amber’s world, and older theatregoers intrigued by a fresh perspective on a timeless topic.
Tickets start at $38.50 for Cheap Tuesdays, with regular pricing ranging from $49.50 to $82.50, and concessions are available. Parking is generally available in nearby streets, and the adjoining pub serves excellent food – making it a great night out all around.
To book tickets to Amber, please visit https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/amber.
Photographer: Phil Erbacher
