in the arts
from June 2008

Re-defining the boundaries of dance and theatre, DV8 Physical Theatre presents its latest work, To Be Straight With You, from 4th–7th June at West Yorkshire Playhouse. Based on hundreds of hours of audio interviews collected throughout the UK, To Be Straight With You explores the highly emotive issues of tolerance, intolerance, religion and sexuality. The production is directed by Lloyd Newson, director of DV8 since its inception in 1986.

Newson said: ‘It is a verbatim theatre work based on 85 interviews and a series of vox pops conducted with people living in the UK. The interviewees include members of the clergy, asylum seekers, human rights organisations and people opposed to homosexuality due to their religious beliefs. All the text used in the show is taken directly from those interviews.

‘Many of the interviewees, particularly from ethnic minority groups with strong religious ties, requested that their identities remain hidden, fearful of the consequences should their communities discover their sexuality. Despite the great gains in the law to protect gay people in this country our interviews show how lesbians and gay men, if they choose to become visible, regularly face intimidation and/or physical abuse. How does a society reconcile religious beliefs with human rights? Is freedom to love another adult of the same gender a human right?’

This show is not suitable for those under the age of sixteen.