This year marks 35 years since Princess Diana’s famous visit to Middlesex hospital, where she visited Britain’s first specialist HIV/AIDS Unit and shook the hands of an AIDS patient. This well documented moment preceded by stark health campaigns in the late 80s targeted at the population in response to its emergence and hopes of tackling the illness, but with it evoking confusion and fear. Inspired by this particular moment of history and his own experience of living with HIV, LGBTQ+ writer Bren Gosling presents award winning show Moment of Grace, which forms part of various events showing as part of this year’s Pride in London, a piece delving deeper into this pivotal hospital visit and the stories behind it – helping to shed light and demystify. Ahead of the production, Bren tells us more about exploring the narrative further, creating the show in association with The National HIV Story Trust (NHST) and what to expect from a post show Q&A discussion taking place on Saturday 9th July after the matinee performance which will be chaired by BAFTA-nominated TV and film producer and NHST founder and trustee Paul Coleman.
Childhood is where we often establish life long friendships, a formative aspect of our lives, the school setting offers an integral opportunity to not only learn, but socialise. From a young age, we also begin to pick up on societal cues, cues that determine our life paths and shape daily interactions. Having debuted their production Playfight last year, Orisun Productions, consisting of producer Shereener Browne and director Leian John-Baptiste present an examination of the corrosive way in which racism determines the direction Black lives take, the show following best friends Kai, TJ and Zara who initially inseparable encounter change that challenges this. Currently playing at Theatre Peckham as part of their fringe festival, Shereener and Leian tell us more about the show’s pertinent topic, taking part in the inaugural Peckham Fringe Festival and what audiences can expect!
Within the past decade, the face of food delivery has shaped how we dine at home, food delivery apps our new normal, delivery drivers now a staple on our streets, with food now accessible at the click of a button. Inspired by his own experiences within the service and delivery jobs sector, writer Max Wilkinson created show Rainer during the initial 2020 lockdown, an unpredictable time period that would place a higher demand on the delivery sector. Rainer explores the experiences of the eponymous solitary bicycle delivery driver as she whizzes across London in response to demand, placing her much needed voice centre stage. Currently playing at the Arcola Theatre, Max tells us more about exploring his own personal experiences further, the show’s two year creative process and working with his fellow team to realise the show!
Our families are what keep us rooted, often our first interaction with the wider world, here is where initial meaningful connections are formed. Marking the re-opening of the Arcola Theatre with their spring season, Barney Norris returns with the premiere of his latest work We Started to Sing, a piece tracing the distance that grows amongst a family over 3 decades as they pave new lives for themselves across the UK. Having recently just opened, the production plays until Saturday 18th June. Forming part of the production’s ensemble, cast member Naomi Petersen tells us more about what inspired her to take part in the show, what preparing for her role involved and what she’s learned from the creative process.
