Bi-Topia at Waterside
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
A world-premiere ‘hilarious, honest and raw’ one-person show will take centre-stage at the Pride in Trafford Festival, happening at Waterside from 17 – 20 May 2023.
A semi-autobiographical show that aims to challenge societal norms around maleness.
Running for the duration of the festival, Bi-Topia is a semi-autobiographical show that aims to challenge societal norms around maleness and raise pressing questions about sexuality and masculinity.
Created and performed by Sam Danson and directed by the indomitable Rikki Beadle-Blair (revered as the exuberant host of the House of Suarez Vogue Ball), Bi-Topia explores an authentic bisexual experience and the effect of hate crime on the LGBTQ+ community. Candid and cathartic, the show takes its inspiration from the creator’s personal experiences and the stories heard through their outreach and activism work within the wider LGBTQ+ community.
When theatre-maker Sam Danson was growing up, his perceptions of masculinity were influenced by the generations of men in his family who have served in the military, and the fictional characters in the war movies he watched. Fast forward a few years later – a young adult struggling with his own male identity, and Sam is a victim of a brutal homophobic attack.
The performance has been developed with members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans and those currently serving in the military who identify as LGBTQ+.
Measured, perceptive and vital, the performance has been developed and shaped by Danson’s real-life experiences and a series of creative workshops with members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans and also those currently serving in the military who identify as LGBTQ+.
Of Bi-Topia, creator and performer Sam Danson told us, ”This show has been over 4 years in the making, I wanted to write something that challenges the audience whilst also being energetic and entertaining. Bi-Topia shares not just my story, but the experience of so many other LGBTQ+ people who have struggled and experienced homophobia. This story isn’t unique, it’s relatable, and that’s a huge problem in our society. I strongly believe in making work that confronts those issues, raises awareness for the communities left under-represented and destigmatizes the real experience for many LGBTQ+ people and I am super proud to be premiering it at Pride in Trafford at Waterside who have helped me to create and fund this vital work.”
A powerful production that gets everyone talking about issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community today.
Opening a discourse on narratives around masculinity and sexuality, Bi-Topia looks to be a powerful production that gets everyone talking about important issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community today.
The performance piece is accompanied by an interactive visual installation, inspired by similar themes within the LGBTQ+ community, which will be on display in the Waterside’s ‘Sup Bar throughout the festival.
