Review

Tales of young males

SEX, LIES AND HEARSAY
GW Theatre Company, 1994

Sex, Lies and Hearsay is a new play which addresses the challenges facing young men as they become aware of puberty, sexual feelings and the pressures on them to have heterosexual sex.

The play was developed and is acted by four young men who worked with GW Theatre Company. It is a moving, funny and at times painfully honest account of what it feels like to be a young man with growing sexual awareness.

GW Theatre Company and Manchester Health Promotion Service jointly organised the production with Manchester Youth Service. Not surprisingly, they found it difficult to recruit young men who were willing to do the play. Given the relative growth in openness about sex especially since the HIV prevention campaign began and the development of work around young women’s health over the last 10 years, the absence of any material developed about, with or for young men is very marked. This play begins to fill that gap from the right starting point, enabling young men to speak for themselves. Hopefully it will help other young men to explore their feelings and behaviour and feel more in control of them.

The play’s positive sexual health messages are aimed at young people aged 11-13. It lasts half an hour which is probably right for the age group and a pack has been developed to go with it for follow-up work. It is intended that the performance will be followed by a discussion in small groups with the actors and health promotion advisers. The play has been piloted in three schools and two youth clubs and is being evaluated.

For more information contact Bernadine O’Sullivan or Elaine Morrison at Manchester Health Promotion Service, telephone 061 203 4101.