Sadiq Ali's New Work 'Tell Me' Explores HIV Stigma in 80s Aids Crisis
In the dark and atmospheric black box theatre, Sadiq Ali's latest work, "Tell Me", tells a poignant tale of love, support, and acceptance amidst the devastating Aids crisis of the 1980s. The show, which has garnered widespread critical acclaim, follows Phoebe Knight as she navigates an HIV diagnosis in a society still shrouded in fear and shame.
Ali, who narrowly escaped Aids-related complications himself, draws on his own personal experience to craft a powerful narrative that confronts the stigma surrounding HIV head-on. By eschewing his own presence at the centre of the story, Ali allows Phoebe Knight to take centre stage, accompanied by Ali and Jonah Russell in a cleverly designed set that doubles as poles, trapezes, and cube-shaped frames.
Through a mesmerizing blend of music, sound, text, dance, and movement, Ali masterfully evokes the febrile atmosphere of 80s Aids crisis, when people with the diagnosis were heartbreakingly shunned by friends and family. The show's use of theatrical choices is smart and sharp, with standout moments that showcase Phoebe Knight's impressive physicality as she navigates the complex emotional terrain.
However, towards its climax, "Tell Me" platesaus for a while, bogged down in darker territory. But even here, the show's intimacy and poignancy shine through, offering a poignant reminder of the importance of love, support, and acceptance in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, "Tell Me" is not a triumph or transcendence story, but a powerful exploration of the human experience that leaves a lasting impact on its audience. As Ali continues to push boundaries as an artist, it's clear that there is much more to come from this talented creative.
In the dark and atmospheric black box theatre, Sadiq Ali's latest work, "Tell Me", tells a poignant tale of love, support, and acceptance amidst the devastating Aids crisis of the 1980s. The show, which has garnered widespread critical acclaim, follows Phoebe Knight as she navigates an HIV diagnosis in a society still shrouded in fear and shame.
Ali, who narrowly escaped Aids-related complications himself, draws on his own personal experience to craft a powerful narrative that confronts the stigma surrounding HIV head-on. By eschewing his own presence at the centre of the story, Ali allows Phoebe Knight to take centre stage, accompanied by Ali and Jonah Russell in a cleverly designed set that doubles as poles, trapezes, and cube-shaped frames.
Through a mesmerizing blend of music, sound, text, dance, and movement, Ali masterfully evokes the febrile atmosphere of 80s Aids crisis, when people with the diagnosis were heartbreakingly shunned by friends and family. The show's use of theatrical choices is smart and sharp, with standout moments that showcase Phoebe Knight's impressive physicality as she navigates the complex emotional terrain.
However, towards its climax, "Tell Me" platesaus for a while, bogged down in darker territory. But even here, the show's intimacy and poignancy shine through, offering a poignant reminder of the importance of love, support, and acceptance in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, "Tell Me" is not a triumph or transcendence story, but a powerful exploration of the human experience that leaves a lasting impact on its audience. As Ali continues to push boundaries as an artist, it's clear that there is much more to come from this talented creative.
the way he tackles HIV stigma in 80s Aids crisis. The set design is genius - those cube-shaped frames are so cool! 
But what really gets me is how raw and honest the storytelling is. Sadiq Ali must have gone through some tough times himself, because it shows. Phoebe Knight's character is so inspiring, you can't help but root for her 
The music and movement are on point too - it's like a fever dream come to life 
My only gripe is that the second half feels a bit slow 
but overall, I'm loving the message of love and acceptance in the face of adversity 
just saw this show and I'm still reeling... Sadiq Ali's 'Tell Me' is like being punched in the feels - it's raw, honest, and unapologetic. The way he tackles HIV stigma in 80s Aids crisis is so crucial 
. sadiq ali's work, "tell me", brings awareness to a painful topic and makes us feel uncomfortable on purpose - but that's where the real growth happens, right? sometimes you have to confront your fears and biases head-on before you can truly move forward 
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. The way Sadiq Ali tackles the HIV stigma of the 80s Aids crisis is nothing short of masterful. I mean, the fact that he drew from his own experience to create this narrative is just mind-blowing 
. Phoebe Knight's character is so relatable and human, it's like you're right there with her navigating the darkest corners of this devastating disease 
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. The way the music, sound, text, dance, and movement all came together to create this immersive experience was just wow 
. And Jonah Russell's supporting role added an extra layer of depth to the story 
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. But even in those darker moments, there was still this glimmer of hope and love that shone through 
. Sadiq Ali is a true artist and I'm excited to see what he comes up with next 
i did find the middle part a bit slow, but overall, it was an incredible experience. phoebe knight's performance was stunning too - she really brought phoebe's emotional journey to life 
It's so cool to see his own experiences informing the work, especially given what happened with him in real life. The set design was insane too