Ellen Leslie
Created by Sadiq Ali, Phoebe Knight and Jonah Russell, Tell Me is a breathtaking performance combining circus, Chinese pole, acrobatics and dance to explore stigma and hope for people living with HIV. When Grace (Knight) is diagnosed with HIV, her world falls apart, and she is transported back to the 1980s, where she meets Michael (Ali), a gay man who also contracts the virus. Despite living in different decades, their stories overlap and combine, revealing how far we have come in terms of medical interventions, and societal attitudes.
There are four poles, one in each corner of the stage that are joined together at the top. Inside this sits one big red cube and a small one that the performers bring on and off stage. The performers do various tricks on the poles that are equal parts terrifying and impressive: at one point Russell throws Knight onto the pole, and she catches it with ease.
The cubes inside are manipulated by the actors to create the story. When she is first diagnosed, Grace is trapped inside the cube, unable to escape it. Later, it is draped in a white sheet and the inside is filled with smoke, as Grace desperately presses her hands and face against it. Effective lighting means we only see the performer’s silhouettes, and at one point there is a man with horns on his head, and another in a surgical mask. It creates an ominous atmosphere, mirroring the fear Grace feels about her diagnosis.
Michael and Grace’s stories directly contrast, showing how public perceptions towards HIV have changed. Grace internalises the shame she feels, avoiding her family despite them being concerned. She is able to take treatment, depicted by a doctor replacing the red cube she was originally given with a blue one, and goes onto live a happy life. On the other hand, Michael desperately wants connection, writing letters to his mum saying how sorry he is and begging her to visit. One of his final pleas where he says although he’s a grown man he just wants his mum, is heartbreaking. We can really feel both his physical and mental pain during his final moments.
The three performers all put on solid performances that showcase their physical strength and flexibility, but it is Ali that truly stands out. He shines in the sequence where Grace and Michael meet in the club for the first time, and his pole tricks are smooth and confident. The performers chalking up their hands is also incorporated into the performance in an intimate scene between Russell and Ali. It is applied liberally – which is much needed in the warm hall – and clouds of dust float daintily in the light.
While the high ceilings and balcony in Summerhall’s dissection hall are necessary for the technical elements of the performance, the audience seating could be improved. As the chairs are all on one level, it is hard to see everything from the back rows. The show is so thrilling; it’s a shame that so many seats have a restricted view.
Sometimes the storytelling gets lost in between the tricks and dancing. While the tricks are always impressive and entertaining, it’s not always clear what the story is. A few sequences don’t add anything to the story and go on too long, namely the opening sequence featuring strobe lighting, and the ending sequence where two of the performers spin around in a cube.
Through circus, aerial and Chinese pole, Tell Meis a visual spectacle that highlights both the stigma and misconceptions around HIV, and how far medication has come. The performers are exquisite, and your heart will be in your mouth as you watch them leap, tumble and dive.
Recommended drink: a glass of cold water: your stomach will be in knots watching the daring tricks!
You can catch Tell Me at Dissection Room at Summerhall from until August 31st from 19:00 (65 mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Jamie Dennis
Lola Rose Wood
Freddie Haberfellner
