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Air Heart

 
Johanna Makelainen Review by Johanna Makelainen 3 Published: 31 Jul 2025 C ARTS | C venues | C alto Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-10 Aug 2025

From take-off, Air Heart delivers a human-sized peek into the private life of Amelia Earhart, the American aviation pioneer. This solo theatre piece offers a feminist interpretation, exploring mixed feelings of ambition and fragility. There’s a refreshing refusal to elevate Earhart into superhero status.

There’s a refreshing refusal to elevate Earhart into superhero status

Amelia Earhart, who vanished in 1937, was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and an early champion of women’s rights, notably founding the Ninety-Nines pilot group. “You don’t fly a plane with a penis,” she remarks with characteristic bluntness.

This is no postcard-perfect portrayal. Instead, Earhart is shown navigating the expectations, pressures and contradictions of her era. Living at a time when “men have adventures, women responsibilities” left a distinctive mark on the defiant aviator.

In Air Heart, writer–performer Irena Huljak inhabits Earhart so deeply that, at times, it feels as though we are eavesdropping on private thoughts rather than watching a show. Her emotional honesty is moving, and her expressive performance often borders on modern dance. The stripped-back setting lets the words do the work, leaving the rest to the viewer’s imagination.

Where Air Heart falters is in navigation. With only one performer covering all roles and perspectives, the shifts in time, tone and voice can be hard to follow – particularly for those not fully familiar with Earhart’s life. In aviation terms: at times it feels like being airborne without clear coordinates. Artistic, yes – but slightly turbulent.

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The Blurb:

This captivating one-person show dives deep into the life of mysterious aviator, Amelia Earhart, known for her daring ambition. People fell in love with her as a romantic icon, but beyond the public persona, we see the woman behind the headlines, confronting her vulnerabilities, sexuality, insecurities and the cost of chasing the unknown. Through raw, intimate performance, this play explores her darker side – uncovering the personal fears and struggles that shaped her pursuit of greatness. A powerful reflection on what any ambitious woman might need to do and the price of a life lived on the edge.