First Time at Contact

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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First Time

Contact Theatre, Manchester
30 November-4 December 2021

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

First Time at Contact
Image courtesy of Lee Baxter.
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Conceived, written and performed by theatre-maker and HIV activist Nathaniel Hall (It’s A Sin), First Time is an autobiographical show that smashes through the stigma of HIV.

A one-man theatre show – funny, frank and unapologetic.

Everything in this show is true. Exploring one young man’s experiences of contracting HIV after the first time he had sex when he was 16, the story is told through a series of personal memoirs, poems and confessions. First Time is a one-man theatre show – funny, frank and unapologetic – about growing up gay and being HIV+ in a straight, HIV- world.

The performance seeks to radically change public attitudes to HIV.

Packing a punch with its messaging, the performance accompanies Nathaniel’s continued drive to break down the stigma associated with HIV through talks, participatory projects, education and outreach. Blending arts with activism, First Time seeks to radically change public attitudes to HIV while advocating better representations of HIV in popular culture.

First Time was originally commissioned by Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford and is supported by Arts Council England.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near First Time at Contact

Manchester
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Catalog Bookshop

Find Peter and his Christiania cargo bike around All Saints Park, a hop, skip and a bunnyhop from Manchester Poetry Library.

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Sandbar

Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating.

Johnny Roadhouse store
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Johnny Roadhouse

Buffeted by fried chicken outlets, legendary musical instrument emporium Johnny Roadhouse has been serving the local music community for over 50 years.

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Eighth Day

Eighth Day is a co-operative shop that sells ethically-sourced food, wine and cosmetics. There’s also café that serves hearty, healthy meals in the basement.

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The Proud Place

Based in the heart of Manchester on Sidney Street, The Proud Place houses The Proud Trust and serves as a community hub for the wider LGBT+ population across Greater Manchester and beyond.

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