Thirty years on from its first season in New York, where critics hailed it for its powerful message, As Is uses humour and sensitivity the apathy and ignorance that surrounded AIDS in the 1980’s, an apathy that continues as more people than ever are contracting HIV in the present day. The play by William H Hoffman won the Obie and Drama Desk Awards and was nominated as one of Time Magazine’s Best Plays Of The Year.
The cast of As Is featured Steven Webb (House of Boys, The Inbetweeners) and David Polynor (The Tempest, Peter Pan) who last performed together in The History Boys at the National Theatre in 2006/7.
They are joined by Dino Fetscher (Banana and Cucumber on C4/E4), Jane Lowe (Bad Girls, Spooks), Giles Cooper (Pride), Natalie Burt (Blandings), Russell Morton (Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory, Piaf) and Bevan Celestine ( I Wish To Die Singing, Empires).
As Is will be directed by Multi award-winning director and HIV/Aids campaigner Andrew Keates, design by Tim McQuillen-Wright, score by Matthew Strachan, Costume design by Philippa Batt and Tobias Fairclough and lighting design by Neill Brinkworth.
This production provides a vital platform to learn from the past and be informed by the present. There will be a vast array of wrap-around activity including offering rapid HIV testing in partnership with 56 Dean Street Sexual Health Clinic to all those who attend the production along with debates, Q&As and education seminars with eminent speakers exploring subjects concerning those affected by HIV and AIDS. These events are held in partnership with organisations such as the Make A Difference Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust and other notable charities.
As Is runs at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 1st July to 1st August 2015.
