The UK Government has committed to ending all new transmissions of HIV by 2030. In the lead up to this World AIDS Day (1 Dec), we’ve teamed up with Dibby Theatre and HIV charity George House Trust to bring you three remarkable stories about life with HIV today.
HIV+Me showcases three ordinary people from Greater Manchester living with HIV and their extraordinary stories in three beautifully shot short films.
Paul remembers the lovers and friends he lost whilst fighting and campaigning from a grotty basement just off Canal Street. Mark revisits the squat he used to call home on Claremont Road and reflects how a positive diagnosis marked the beginning of a new life. And Yvonne recalls a lifetime of hiding in the shadows before she found something inside so strong that now helps her help others.
Directed by award-winning theatre maker and HIV activist Nathaniel Hall, the films tell the story of HIV from the terrifying early days of GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency) through to the modern day where people don’t just survive but thrive with HIV.
HIV+Me
By Nathaniel Hall
Presented by Dibby Theatre
Delivered in partnership with George House Trust
Supported by Arts Council England
Written and performed by Paul Fairweather, Mark Holder and Yvonne Richards
Created and directed by Nathaniel Hall
Creative Team
Writers and Performers Paul Fairweather, Mark Holder and Yvonne Richards
Script Development Nathaniel Hall, Chris Hoyle, Dave Bewick and Pedro Labanca
Director Nathaniel Hall
Camera and Editing Dave Bewick and Pedro Labanca
Production Assistant Jade Parsley
Stills Photography Jordan Roberts
Production Advisor Dennis Keighron-Foster
Producer Ross Carey
Age Guidance: Suitable for ages 11+
Emotional warnings: Reference to illness and dying, drug use, gang violence, racism and homophobia
PAUL
Running time: 5 minutes 34 seconds
MARK
Running time: 5 minutes 43 seconds
YVONNE
Running time: 6 minutes 1 second
HIV is now a treatable and manageable long term health condition.
People living with HIV who are on medication and who have an undetectable viral load cannot pass the virus on - this is known as Undetectable=Untransmittable or U=U for short.
There are new ways to protect yourself from HIV too.
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is HIV medication taken before sex that is highly effective at stopping
HIV transmission, and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) can be taken soon after potential HIV exposure
to reduce the risk of transmission.
• PrEP and PEP are both available for free on the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Condoms remain an effective way to stop transmission too.
HIV often shows few distinguishable symptoms. Regular testing is important to ensure early diagnosis, stop HIV from being passed on unknowingly, and so HIV medication can be prescribed.
Testing is widely available both in person and through the post - visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids for more.