HIV and AIDS is never far from the front as fundamental issues go in terms of either Equality and Human Rights.
The need for education around potential sources of transmission, the needs to support people who are HIV positive and perhaps most importantly the need for both societal and self acceptable are also very important.
Positive, by the West Avenue Theatre Company, takes on the lot.
Here we meet Benji, diagnosed with HIV a year ago and still unable to develop self acceptance. He is depressed, doesn't sleep well and has little by way of a social life. He is young, single, gay man but scared of rejection in love.
We also meet Benji's flatmate. She is straight and unlike Benji, has a loving partner who fully embraces her and her HIV positive status. She later tries to push him away; not wishing to burden him with her HIV "problem".
The show uses the contrast between the two to great effect.
At first glance, it would be easy to conclude that the subject matter would make the show heavy.
However, this could not be further from the truth. The show uses humour and situation comedy to really develop the issues involved. Witty and wicked one liners never fail to make you laugh out loud; even when exploring the topic of sex with someone who is HIV positive as Benji is told by someone who lacked understanding:
"...you want to dip my perfectly healthy carrot into your houmous of death..."
It's not always directly about the HIV though, Benji's complex relationship with his mother and her preconceptions are also explored. She is genuinely trying to reach out into a world that she knows little about and dearly loves her son.
Can HIV be transmitted from sharing a glass of wine? What about touching, kissing or the passionate embrace? This creates some awkward moments, highlighting the struggle that HIV positive people face when telling people - particularly potential lovers - about their HIV positive status.
It is not until the end, that the show covers the most difficult aspect of living with HIV - the diagnosis. The humour works here as well as not everyone could get away with calling the clinic information as a "bit too primary school" handing out " the leaflets of death..."
If anyone did not know anything about HIV, about the transmission of the virus, or how it affects the day to day lives of people living as HIV positive you would have learned something from the content.
Positive, is first class; an excellent, educational comedy.
To book tickets to see the show, or to find out more information, please visit the Edinburgh Fringe Online Booking site.
To find out more about the show directly from West Avenue Theatre, you can visit there site:
http://westavenuetheatre.com/2013/05/17/positive-heading-to-edinburgh-festival-fringe-2013-cast-crew-confirmed/
***Stop Press***
You can now listen to an exclusive interview with Rob Ellis, the Director, Will Marsh, who plays "Benji" and Nathalie Barclay who plays "Nikki" in the show.
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