Feature image: Made in Boorloo. Supplied

Nestled in the intimate and undeniably cool performance space of the Blue Room Theatre, lights flickers and dances on the small stage and ceiling as a sold-out crowd giggles and smiles, watching the Western Australian Youth Theatre Company (WAYTC) double bill of one-act plays: Made in Boorloo.

Written and performed by WAYTC members between the ages of 13 and 26, young theatre stars have had the opportunity to be mentored shoulder-to-shoulder with industry professionals to bring their stories to life.

Sitting in the second row from the stage, I was immediately delighted when the first act began – Red Thread, written by Sophia Bell and directed by Amelia Burke.

The play followed main character Audrey and best friend Zora, who attempt to solve a mysterious puzzle delivered to them one Friday night, only to end up kidnapped by an unlikely culprit.

After a slightly awkward beginning, the main character, Audrey, dressed in jeans and a checked shirt, spoke to the audience in a way that reminded me of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s performance in the award-winning Fleabag. She broke the fourth wall on multiple occasions, sharing confidential looks and remarks with the crowd, fully immersing the audience in the storyline.

Without revealing too much, the show’s highlights include a rather confusing but funny anecdote about burning down a BCF while attempting to camp, some complex and interlocking family drama, as well as a “fairy godmother”-esque ghost who seemingly pulls through to save the day.

Honorary mentions include what I think is a wonderfully accurate depiction of an insufferable law-school “fuckboy” who never takes responsibility for his actions.

Saving the best for last, Act Two, Strongest Patient, was written by Adam Snyman and directed by Zac James. The play was an absolutely hilarious and surprisingly poignant reflection on masculinity and societal expectations of young men.

The act, set in a hospital waiting room, sees four men compete in a “masculinity competition” for the prize of a new nose.

The play follows a noseless patient, dressed in a hospital gown and desperately waiting for a transplant, as he tries to prove his masculinity to a gym-obsessed muscle maniac, a performative smooth flirter (who also happens to be a feminist who understands the terrors and complexities of a period), and a nonchalant “cool boy.”

The play has complex twists and turns. Highlights include the very loud grunts and groans from the resident gym boy while chowing down on “protein chicken” to prepare for an arm wrestle; the unexpected discovery of who the potential transplant nose actually belongs to; and the tender realisation that to be a man, you don’t actually have to be the most masculine.

The Strongest Patient showcased impressive acting performances, total commitment to the bit, and a wildly successful delve into manhood.

Made in Boorloo is the perfect show for an entertaining, and not overly long, exploration of Perth’s arts culture and a fantastic display of the home-grown talent that works hard to prove itself year after year.