Sadiq Ali's 'Tell Me' Review: A Powerful Portrayal of Love and Acceptance Amid the AIDS Crisis
The creator of the show, Sadiq Ali, was once expected to die of AIDS-related complications in 2025 due to advances in medicine. However, he is now thriving as an artist, with his latest work 'Tell Me' bringing attention to a subject that remains stigmatised and misunderstood outside of the LGBTQ+ community: HIV diagnosis.
The show's protagonist, Phoebe Knight, played by an actress alongside Sadiq Ali and Jonah Russell, embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she navigates her diagnosis. Unlike Ali himself, who doesn't put his own personal experience at the forefront, he masterfully weaves in the historical context of the 1980s AIDS crisis.
Through a clever set made from cube-shaped frames that double as poles and trapezes, the performers portray a poignant story, evoking strong emotions with its stinging portrayal of fear, shame, and heartbreak. The show's atmosphere is darker than its outdoor performance at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, which suggests that 'Tell Me' will be an intense viewing experience.
The first half of the show feels sharp and intelligent, with expert use of music, sound, set, text, and dance to convey the characters' emotions. However, as the show descends into murkier territory with its depiction of a devilish minotaur creature, it plateaus for a while.
Ultimately, 'Tell Me' is a story about love, support, and acceptance. It's a well-crafted piece of theatre that showcases Sadiq Ali's artistic growth and talent. With no doubt more to come from this emerging artist, 'Tell Me' is a powerful portrayal of the human experience during one of history's darkest periods.
The show's use of movement across the floor and up the poles serves as a metaphor for its themes, with the characters eventually facing their demons head-on. Sadiq Ali's impressive physical presence, including his glistening abs suspended from a Chinese pole, serves as a striking visual representation of resilience.
With 'Tell Me', Sadiq Ali proves himself to be a talented and empathetic storyteller, capable of crafting a work that is both poignant and powerful. The show is an important contribution to the conversation around HIV diagnosis and its impact on those affected by it, offering a message of hope and acceptance in a world that still struggles with stigma and fear.
The creator of the show, Sadiq Ali, was once expected to die of AIDS-related complications in 2025 due to advances in medicine. However, he is now thriving as an artist, with his latest work 'Tell Me' bringing attention to a subject that remains stigmatised and misunderstood outside of the LGBTQ+ community: HIV diagnosis.
The show's protagonist, Phoebe Knight, played by an actress alongside Sadiq Ali and Jonah Russell, embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she navigates her diagnosis. Unlike Ali himself, who doesn't put his own personal experience at the forefront, he masterfully weaves in the historical context of the 1980s AIDS crisis.
Through a clever set made from cube-shaped frames that double as poles and trapezes, the performers portray a poignant story, evoking strong emotions with its stinging portrayal of fear, shame, and heartbreak. The show's atmosphere is darker than its outdoor performance at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, which suggests that 'Tell Me' will be an intense viewing experience.
The first half of the show feels sharp and intelligent, with expert use of music, sound, set, text, and dance to convey the characters' emotions. However, as the show descends into murkier territory with its depiction of a devilish minotaur creature, it plateaus for a while.
Ultimately, 'Tell Me' is a story about love, support, and acceptance. It's a well-crafted piece of theatre that showcases Sadiq Ali's artistic growth and talent. With no doubt more to come from this emerging artist, 'Tell Me' is a powerful portrayal of the human experience during one of history's darkest periods.
The show's use of movement across the floor and up the poles serves as a metaphor for its themes, with the characters eventually facing their demons head-on. Sadiq Ali's impressive physical presence, including his glistening abs suspended from a Chinese pole, serves as a striking visual representation of resilience.
With 'Tell Me', Sadiq Ali proves himself to be a talented and empathetic storyteller, capable of crafting a work that is both poignant and powerful. The show is an important contribution to the conversation around HIV diagnosis and its impact on those affected by it, offering a message of hope and acceptance in a world that still struggles with stigma and fear.
I don't know how Sadiq Ali did it but he poured his heart out through the actors. I'm not even gonna lie, I had to look up what AIDS was like back in the 80s... didn't think about how harsh life must have been for people with HIV 
and the way the show tackled it was super raw. 
but also wanna know what happens next lol guess that's the magic of storytelling.
still, loved the message of love and acceptance - hope more people watch this show so we can get closer to understanding HIV
. The show's creators did an amazing job of weaving in historical context and making it relatable to a wider audience. But, I gotta nitpick a bit - that devilish minotaur creature? A bit too much drama for my taste 
. Still, the show's message of love, support, and acceptance is so powerful and necessary. And Sadiq Ali's talent is undeniable! The way he incorporates movement and physicality into the performance is genius 
. Can't wait to see what other amazing work this emerging artist has in store for us 
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Sadiq Ali just broke the internet... not because his abs are "glistening" but because he's breaking down stigmas around HIV diagnosis 
And honestly, who else can rock a minotaur costume and make it work? 
. and can we talk about the choreo? it's like, totally on point with those cube-shaped frames 
. but, gotta say, some parts felt a bit too intense, like when they brought out that devilish minotaur creature 
. still, sadiq ali pulls it off, and i'm here for the message of love & acceptance he's spreading 
I'm so inspired by Sadiq Ali's latest work 'Tell Me'! It's such a powerful portrayal of love, acceptance & overcoming the stigmas surrounding HIV diagnosis 
. And let's be real, that set is MIND-BLOWING 
! The use of music, sound, movement & dance to convey emotions is just pure genius 
. Can't wait to see what Sadiq Ali comes up with next! 
. The cube-shaped set is genius 
. I'm defo gonna keep an eye out for more work from this emerging artist 
!
his physical performance in that show was insane btw, I mean those abs suspended from the pole? 
I'm literally obsessed. 
the way he wove historical context into the narrative was so clever and added such depth to the story. i loved how the set design incorporated cube-shaped frames - it was like a puzzle piece that came together to form this stunning visual representation of the characters' emotions 
and can we talk about sadiq ali's physical presence for a sec?! 
. And that physicality of Sadiq Ali's is just incredible, it's like his body is a character in itself! 
. It's a testament to Sadiq Ali's talent as a storyteller that he can craft a work that's both poignant and empowering.
. but what really got me was the message of hope and acceptance, it's not always easy to talk about these things, especially in today's world 
. 10/10 would recommend watching 'Tell Me' - it's a powerful portrayal of love and acceptance that will leave you feeling all the feels 
. Sadiq doesn't share his own experience, but you can tell he's drawing from a deep well of empathy and understanding for those affected by HIV diagnosis. It's a powerful message that needs to be shared with the world right now 
!
? This show is like a modern retelling of that story, but with such a fresh perspective. The way Sadiq Ali weaves history into the narrative is genius 
. It's like they're trying to hit us over the head with the message instead of subtlety. That being said, the use of movement and physical performance is super effective in conveying the emotions and themes 
The way he combines art, music, and performance to tell this powerful story is truly inspiring. It's not just a show, it's an experience. I love how the set is designed to represent the characters' emotions - it's so immersive. And can we talk about Sadiq Ali's physical presence? 
He's like a total boss up in that Chinese pole thing! 
. The set design is EVERYTHING 
. can't wait to see what Sadiq Ali comes out with next 
. And what about the accuracy of his portrayal of the 1980s AIDS crisis - is it based on personal experience, research, or a mix of both? I need more info before I can fully believe this story 
. The set design is insane, I love how they used cube-shaped frames as poles and trapezes - it's like nothing I've seen before 