Bi-Topia at Waterside
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Billed as a ‘hilarious, honest and raw’ one-person show, Bi-Topia is a compelling semi-autobiographical show that aims to challenge societal norms around maleness and raise pressing questions about sexuality and masculinity.
Candid and cathartic, this coming-of-age performance shines a light on the highs and lows of the bi-sexual experience.
Created and performed by Northern theatre-maker Sam Danson and directed by the indomitable Rikki Beadle-Blair (revered as the exuberant host of the House of Suarez Vogue Ball), Bi-Topia examines an authentic bisexual experience and the often under-explored links between a person’s mental health and dealing with their sexuality. Candid and cathartic, this coming-of-age performance shines a light on the highs and lows of the bi-sexual experience.
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.
A powerful production that gets everyone talking about important issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community today.
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.”
Opening a conversation around masculinity and sexuality, Bi-Topia is a powerful production that gets everyone talking about important issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community today.
