in partnership with The B-Bar
Dibby Theatre
First Time
Age guidance 14+
Can you remember your first time? Nathaniel can’t seem to forget his. To be fair, he has had it playing on repeat for the last 15 years.
Now the party is over, the balloons have all burst and he’s left living his best queer life: brunching on pills and Googling kangaroo vaginas, ancient condoms and human cesspits on a weekday morning... or is he?
Award-winning HIV+ theatre-maker Nathaniel Hall (It’s a Sin) and Dibby Theatre present their critically acclaimed ‘hilarious’ and ‘heart breaking’ hit autobiographical show about growing up positive in a negative world.
Join him as he blows the lid on the secret he’s been keeping all these years.
A Waterside Arts Commission supported by Arts Council England.
Pay What You Decide!
This is a Pay What You Decide event which means you choose what the show is worth to you!You can decide what you would like to pay now by adding a donation to your booking, or you can pay after you have seen the show at Barbican Theatre.
Looking around at other events going on in the city, we estimate that 1 ticket to similar events would cost £12.
There is no ‘right’ answer, we are not attempting to lead you to a specific figure.
You can pay £0 for your ticket.
Audience guidance / trigger warnings / safe space
Age Guidance: suitable for ages 14+
Emotional / trigger warnings: scenes of recreational drug use, strong language and references to sexual grooming
Health warnings: Includes strobe light and use of sudden loud sounds
Barbican Theatre is a safe space - safe to be who you are, regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender, identity, or sexual orientation.
Awards & Critical Acclaim
Winner: Venues North Edinburgh Fringe Award 2019
Vault Pick Of Summerhaul Open Minds Open Doors
Best Shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019 – The Stage
Top Recommended Shows to See at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019 – The Guardian
“Packs and emotional punch that resonates even after you’ve left the theatre.”
The Guardian
“An unabashedly heart on sleeve, crowd pleasing show but also a crucial one for raising awareness about HIV.’
Lyn Gardner, Stagedoor
“A truly remarkable story of triumph, I was in awe.”
Russell T. Davies
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Moving and educational”
The Stage
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Compelling, motivating, triumphant”
BroadwayBaby
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A must see”
ThreeWeeks
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Captivating”
Somewhere LGBT
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“One hell of a ride”
Northern Soul
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Heart breaking, eye-opening and uplifting”
Broadway World UK
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Every bit as important as ‘TheNormal Heart’, ‘Angels in America’ and ‘Rent’”
Spy in the Stalls
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Direct from the heart”
Elaine Chapman
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Messy, funny, tragic”
Within Her Words
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An autobiographical
masterpiece”
Ask the Ushers
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Universal and deeply moving”
Attitude
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Captivating, life-affirming”
The List
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Raw, autobiographical passion”
The Scotsman
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Razor sharp”
The Queer Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Tender and real”
EdFest Mag
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Powerful and passionate”
The Wee Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Dynamic and moving”
ScotsGay Fringe
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Gentle and measured”
The Reviews Hub
About First Time
First Time
Conceived, written and performed by theatre-maker and HIV activist Nathaniel Hall (It’s A Sin), First Time smashes through the stigma of HIV.
The show accompanies Nathaniel’s continued activism to break down the stigma associated with the disease through talks,
participatory projects, education and outreach.
Everything in First Time is true. Based on Nathaniel’s own story of contracting the virus from his first sexual encounter aged
just 16, First Time is a ‘hilarious and heart breaking’ play that transforms audiences into HIV allies.
Through First Time, we are radically changing public attitudes to HIV, blending arts with health and education, the show never feels like a lecture, but packs a punch in its messaging.
First Time was originally commissioned by Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford and is supported by Arts Council
England.
About Nathaniel Hall & Dibby Theatre
About Nathaniel
Nathaniel is a theatre-maker and HIV activist from Manchester. He writes, directs, inspires and produces bold and
provocative, socially minded work.
www.nathanieljhall.co.uk | @nathanieljhall
About Dibby Theatre
Dibby Theatre tell urgent and untold stories full of northern wit, git and soul. LGBTQ+ led, they are activists with a shared
desire for social change. With an extensive outreach, education and talent development programme, Dibby’s work reaches
far beyond the stage.
www.dibbytheatre.org | @DibbyTheatre
First Time Creative & Production Teams
By Nathaniel Hall
Presented by Dibby Theatre,
A Waterside Arts Commission
Written and Performed By Nathaniel Hall
Directed by Chris Hoyle
Design by Irene Jade
Creative Team
Writer and Performer Nathaniel Hall
Director and Dramaturg Chris Hoyle
Designer Irene Jade
Original Music and Sound Design Nathaniel Hall
Live Art Consultant Stacy Makishi
Lighting Design Joel Clements
Additional Sound Design Joel Clements
Marketing Design Lee Baxter
Trailer Georgiana Ghetiu
Trailer Animation Gavin Wood
Production Photography Andrew Perry, Lee Baxter, Dawn Kilner and Youcef Hadjazi
Production Team
Technical Stage Manager Joel Clements
PR Consultant Rachel Furst
Marketing Nathaniel Hall
Producer Ross Carey
Executive Producer Nathaniel Hall
Covid 19 Safety
The health, safety and comfort of our audiences, colleagues and performers are very important to us.
We have a number of measures in place to ensure your comfort and safety. Enhanced hygiene procedures are in place. Hand sanitising stations are positioned throughout the public spaces for audience members to use and we ask that you do so frequently. The theatre will be aired out between rehearsals and performances (for added covid safety) which can mean the space can feel a tiny bit more chilly even after we shut the doors. Therefore we suggest you wear an extra layer to be safe!
All audience members are asked to wear face masks (unless exempt) from as soon as they arrive at the theatre and throughout their visit (including while watching the performance).
All Barbican Theatre team members will be wearing face masks (unless exempt) and will be regularly lateral flow tested. This includes the team front of house and back stage, and performers.
We continue to monitor the latest guidance from the UK Government.
Please do not attend if you are displaying any Covid-19 symptoms or are currently required to isolate within latest government guidelines.
If you have any questions about your tickets, refunds or exchanges due to covid-related issues please email our Audience Experience Manager, Robyn, at info@barbicantheatre.co.uk
#StaySafe
Venue Info
Barbican Theatre
Castle Street
The Barbican
Plymouth
PL1 2NJ
Situated behind the Mayflower Visitor Centre just off the main Barbican road (opposite the 'Prawn' and Mayflower Steps.
info@barbicantheatre.co.uk
Your Visit FAQs (opens in a new tab) - incudes parking, access and Pay What you Decide ticket info.
Seating
Reserved seating is in place.
Seats B5, B6, B7 and B8 are accessible seats.
We ask that you only book these seats if you cannot easily access other seating in our auditorium (or are accompanying someone who cannot)
If you have any specific access requirements (for example wheelchair access) please leave details in the comment box when placing your order or email our Audience Experience Manager, Robyn, at info@barbicantheatre.co.uk and she will arrange this for you.
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