Overview

Can you remember your first time? In this hilarious and heartbreaking true story, theatre-maker and activist Nathaniel Hall can't seem to forget his. To be fair, he's had it playing on repeat for the last fifteen years… but now he's ready to lift the lid on his life-changing secret. First presented by Dibby Theatre and Waterside Arts, First Time went on to critical and audience acclaim on tour of the UK and at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It smashes through the stigma and shame of HIV, to present an uplifting and inspirational guide to staying positive in a negative world. This edition features the full script of First Time, alongside extensive material about HIV/AIDS and the themes and issues explored in the play, including several workshop plans which can be used with students and community groups. 'A truly remarkable story of triumph. I was in awe' Russell T Davies 'A visceral, interactive and educational theatrical journey' — ThreeWeeks 'Heartbreaking and eye-opening yet extremely uplifting... a touching and effective piece of theatre, handling an exceptionally heavy subject with ease' — Broadway World 'Funny and frank... a captivating, life-affirming tale of resilience and determination' — The List 'Funny, moving and powerful' — The Reviews Hub 'Punches home political and emotional key points with devastating clarity... moving, educational and littered with quick-fire humour' — The Stage 'The raw, autobiographical passion escalates this to another level' — Scotsman 'Universal and deeply moving' — Attitude

Full Product Details

9781848429765

Table of Contents

Reviews

Heartbreaking and eye-opening yet extremely uplifting... a touching and effective piece of theatre, handling an exceptionally heavy subject with ease.-- Broadway World Packs an emotional punch that resonates even after you've left the theatre.-- Guardian Punches home political and emotional key points with devastating clarity... moving, educational and littered with quick-fire humour.-- The Stage

'A visceral, interactive and educational theatrical journey' * ThreeWeeks * 'Heartbreaking and eye-opening yet extremely uplifting... a touching and effective piece of theatre, handling an exceptionally heavy subject with ease' * Broadway World * 'Funny and frank... a captivating, life-affirming tale of resilience and determination' * The List * 'Funny, moving and powerful' * The Reviews Hub * 'Punches home political and emotional key points with devastating clarity... moving, educational and littered with quick-fire humour' * The Stage * 'The raw, autobiographical passion escalates this to another level' * Scotsman * 'Universal and deeply moving' * Attitude * 'An unabashedly heart-on-sleeve, crowd-pleasing show but also a crucial one for raising awareness about HIV' -- Lyn Gardner * Stagedoor * 'Packs an emotional punch that resonates even after you've left the theatre' * Guardian *

'A visceral, interactive and educational theatrical journey' ThreeWeeks; 'Heartbreaking and eye-opening yet extremely uplifting... a touching and effective piece of theatre, handling an exceptionally heavy subject with ease' Broadway World; 'Funny and frank... a captivating, life-affirming tale of resilience and determination' The List

Author Information

Nathaniel J Hall is a theatre-maker and HIV activist from Manchester. He is Co-Artistic Director of Dibby Theatre. He has delivered projects for Contact Theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, 20 Stories High, Wellcome, Trans Creative, Manchester Pride, George House Trust, the LGBT Foundation and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. His play First Time was first presented by Dibby Theatre and Waterside Arts at Waterside Arts, Manchester, in 2018, and had a critically acclaimed run at Summerhall during the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was awarded the Venues North Edinburgh Fringe Award and the VAULT Pick of Summerhall, and was named in The Stage's Best Shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2019. It subsequently toured the UK. Other work includes Toxic (Dibby Theatre tour, 2025). Nathaniel has lived with HIV since the age of sixteen and is a prominent voice in HIV activism, having told his personal story across many platforms, including on BBC Radio and Television News, MTV UK, Buzzfeed UK and Attitude magazine. He advocates for better representation of LGBTQ and HIV+ actors across the industry. Author photo by Rebecca Lupton/Factory Int.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available