Edinburgh Fringe - What I want to say, but never will

Don't speak your mind, there may be consequences.  Keep your opinions to yourself, they are not valid anyway.  I am scared to say it, what if they reject me?  

Sex, pregnancy, coming out as Gay, child abuse, family, divorce, anger, hatred, love, self harm, depression, drugs and alcohol, anorexia, religion, cancer and death.  All Emotions and experiences building barriers between us.   

These are also some of the subjects sometimes found to be taboo.  To put it simply, we find it difficult to talk about them - finding tape put over our mouths. 

What I want to say, but never will, performed by the St. Ives Youth Theatre, is a collection of thoughts, emotions and experience compiled by Alan, an English teacher, of the things that young people in America really want to say and why they feel that they can't.

The thought that our young people feel unable to talk about what is on their mind, or that perhaps we as a Society are not prepared to listen is truly disturbing.  However, this show opens a window into their world and the constraining influences preventing - whether directly or not - the burst for self expression.  

Alan acts as the adult narrator, seeking to encourage each of the young people to come forward and tell their story.  He makes it clear that the show is not about him; which is why his character is taken on by a beautiful teenage girl - contrasted by the middle-aged, balding fat man - that we may expect.

One by one, the cast - all young people - dressed in theatrical black - reveal themselves.  However,  anyone can tell a story, what makes their tales unique is the controlling - even constraining - tape over their mouth.  The tape bears individual words and each word has meaning - bearing that back story - of the tale never told.

When the tape is peeled away, the young people speak; shout; cry and move all in dialogue with their fears.  We never see the reality.  We never know whether the cries are heard; real tears shed, gay children embraced or expelled; the pregnancy reaching child birth or the friendships continuing or ending.

This is the mystery of the performance.  It always leaves you wanting to ask a question and perhaps, you should.   

Of course, Alan admits that some of the stories, or things that young people want to say, lack context.  Some if it is just venting, frustration, hitting out or a need to release that built up angst.  The other stories are more important; abusive parents, self harming, not knowing what to do about an unexpected pregnancy or shouting, seeking and pleas for help.

Are we listening?  That is what Alan keeps reminding us.  Perhaps, more importantly, do we even want to listen?

Adults, whether a parent, guardian, priest or a friend are meant to be there to protect our children.  Who can our young people turn to if there is no one there to listen.

There are two sides to every story.  This is the subtle sometimes that Alan conveys too.  The adult figure may be willing to listen, but has the young person shut themselves off.  Perhaps, they do not understand their parents as much as they think?

This is what Alan advised me;

"What do you want to say but you know you never will?

To whom do you wish you could say it to?

Why won't you say it

This message is important.

Listen to me..."    

 Advice that you too, can take away.

A poignant performance, not best expressed in words alone.  See it and believe.

No five stars could do this show justice - it worth far more than that.

What I want to say, but never will is on at Sweet Venues, Grassmarket at 14.55.  The last performance is on Sunday 18th of August.  Tickets are available on-line from the Edinburgh Fringe box office, alternatively they can be purchased directly from the venue.    

For more information on the St. Ives Youth Theatre and the show itself, visit their website:
http://www.siyt.co.uk/wiwtsbnwe.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siytsayit
Twitter: @sity_sayit    
 

Edinburgh Fringe - Positive

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.   

"Getting AIDS comes from unhealthy relationships"

On BBC The Big Questions, aired on Sunday 17 March 2013, a religious audience member stated live on BBC TV that "getting AIDS comes from unhealthy relationships".  He went on to reference Gay men and Lesbians.  

The Presenter of the the programme did not robustly challenge him concerning this contribution.  

It can be difficult on a live television discussion programme to ensure that audience participants in the show avoid making derogatory  offensive or prejudicial remarks.

However, the BBC must set some standards for its television presenters and audience participants, even if the show is the topic of Christianity and Modernity.

My primary objection to this particular contribution, is that it was allowed to go unchallenged.

The Presenter moved quickly onto the next contribution and encouraged the audience member to elaborate on his contribution.

Because of the show's religious element, the BBC permitted this particular contribution to be broadcast and also to go unchallenged.

The BBC knew, or ought to have known, that this contribution was both stigmatising and inaccurate.

Two resounding questions for the BBC

Why is it that linking someone's sexual orientation to the spread of AIDS makes acceptable Sunday morning television?

Why is sexual orientation always viewed as a moral issue, inevitably linked to sex and then promiscuity?

History repeating itself?

The comment referencing AIDS to being Gay reminded me of the ill-informed, offensive and "hate" campaigns that featured throughout the 1980s.

At this time, a series of national adverts were being run by the UK Government to make the public aware of HIV / AIDS.  However, the reactionary media, were more focused on linking AIDS to being Gay and being Gay to spreading disease - this is where AIDS got its first name - The Gay Plague.

Call to be vigilant

Has nothing changed?  Or is this just a one off example, of an ill-conceived, off the cuff comment, made to promote the virtues of a religious celibate life?

I would like to think that this is the case.

However, it does go to show that we must all be vigilant.  Public opinion and with it, government and legislative policy can be easily swayed by both positive and negative media portrayal.

"Stories in the media can have a positive effect in increasing people's awareness of HIV and what it means to live with HIV. However media reports about HIV are often stigmatising or inaccurate. Many stories contribute to a culture of blame about HIV transmission, focusing on so-called irresponsible sexual activity, use judgemental language and stereotype people living with HIV."

People who are either HIV positive or who have AIDS already face discrimination and stigma.

We must do all that we can to address this problem and to challenge those, particularly in the media, who would like to see us revisit recent history.

 The episode of The Big Questions is available on iPlayer by clicking here.  It is available for the next 7 days from today.  The Contribution in question was made approximately 28 minutes into the programme.  

I have made a complaint to the BBC.

If you wish to complain too, you can do so by following this link:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/