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A solo show that smashes through the stigma and shame of HIV to present an uplifting and inspirational guide to staying positive in a negative world.
About the author
Nathaniel J Hall is a theatre-maker and HIV activist from Manchester. He is Co-Artistic Director of Dibby Theatre.
He has delivered projects for Contact Theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, 20 Stories High, Wellcome, Trans Creative, Manchester Pride, George House Trust, the LGBT Foundation and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
His play First Time was first presented by Dibby Theatre and Waterside Arts at Waterside Arts, Manchester, in 2018, and had a critically acclaimed run at Summerhall during the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was awarded the Venues North Edinburgh Fringe Award and the VAULT Pick of Summerhall, and was named in The Stage's Best Shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2019. It subsequently toured the UK.
Other work includes Toxic (Dibby Theatre tour, 2025).
Nathaniel has lived with HIV since the age of sixteen and is a prominent voice in HIV activism, having told his personal story across many platforms, including on BBC Radio and Television News, MTV UK, Buzzfeed UK and Attitude magazine. He advocates for better representation of LGBTQ and HIV+ actors across the industry.
Author photo by Rebecca Lupton/Factory Int.
Summary
A hilarious and heartbreaking true story that smashes through the stigma and shame of HIV, to present an uplifting and inspirational guide to staying positive in a negative world.
