Historic Theatre, The Cultch is featuring a verbatim production, In My Day from December 2nd to December 11, 2022. Presented by ZeeZee Theatre and written by Rick Waines, this production shines a light on the stories of those affected by HIV in Vancouver during the first 15 years of the epidemic. The play is arranged from 118 interviews conducted as part of an oral history research project titled HIV In My Day by researchers from the University of Victoria. Intended as a memorial art project, the play tells the stories of the localities and communities of 1980’s Vancouver that were disproportionately affected by the AIDS epidemic.
The play begins in the current era – besieged by a novel pandemic that has forced everyone to renegotiate the norms of social interactions with friends, acquaintances and strangers. As the story progresses, the audience is taken on a time travel journey back to the Vancouver of 1970’s and 80’s. We witness scenes in the narrow alleys of Vancouver’s West End, the flamboyant dance parties in the gay bars on Davie Street and even some covert corners in Sunset Beach that served as sensual hotspots for the queer communities of that era. In an interesting casting choice, the members of the cast do not strictly match the gender and ethnic identities of the characters they portray. The stories are of many stripes – the dialogues sometimes make the race, gender and sexual identity of the character apparent. It becomes clear that the play centers the stories of people with Asian, Indigenous as well as Caucasian backgrounds – almost all belonging to the LGBTQ2S community.
The play covers the history of the emergence and spread of HIV; and the resulting discrimination, losses and stigmatization faced by the queer community. The stories of fickle-minded politicians and public figures with a savior complex who dangerously swayed public perceptions to further marginalize a traumatized community are narrated with great comedic effect. Early victims and those who lost friends and family to the devastating epidemic are portrayed with sensitivity, without taking away their agency. We learn about the struggles faced by the first patients who were given experimental drugs and the nuances of the identity politics that played out amongst various sections of the affected population. There are some explicit depictions of sexual acts, not surprising since this is precisely the kind of history that gets erased and forgotten by mainstream society. The show does justice in how it captures the erotic joy pursued by people who continue to be subjected to various kinds of bigotry, judgement and discrimination by a white supremacist, cis-hetero-patriarchal system that does not accommodate the needs of those with alternate sexualities. The second half of the show pivots to the stories of activism, resilience and successes seen during the later years of the HIV-AIDS epidemic. The set design is elegant and minimal. The lighting and sound effects brilliantly transport audiences to places ranging from disco bars and erotic bath houses to hospitals, care homes and funeral wakes.
This project is an ode to the undaunted activism of courageous people who demanded fair treatment by the healthcare system and played a huge role in enabling the destigmatization of HIV-AIDS. In My Day is more than just a documentation of the struggles and victories faced by victims and survivors. HIV activism is an ongoing project. It is essential that we continue conversations and build strategies to confront issues such as racism, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia. Apart from addressing these points, the show also celebrates Vancouver’s collective memory that refuses to give up in the face of trauma and loss. The gallery in the theater lobby has a display of art and ephemera to complement the show. Some of the pieces are digitally available here.
You can book your tickets here.
– Annapoorna Shruthi