Sadiq Ali Company: A Review of Heartbreak and Resilience in 1980s London

In the⁢ program note for Tell Me, its creator‌ Sadiq ⁣Ali shares ⁢that 2025 was the ​year he might have been expected to die⁣ of AIDS-related complications, where ‌it not for advances​ in medicine.⁣ Now, he is thriving, physically strong, and⁢ performing aerial⁤ work with a Chinese pole. ‍

Ali ‌is also a⁤ successful‍ artist; his previous show, ⁣ The Chosen Haram,‌ received five-star reviews. He ⁣has recently launched his own circus/theater company, and Tell Me is their latest production. The work⁣ centers on a‌ woman living with an HIV diagnosis, a subject still ⁣facing stigma and misunderstanding, particularly outside the ⁣LGBTQ+⁣ community. ⁢While the topic is deeply personal to Ali, he intentionally positions ‌Phoebe Knight as the protagonist,‍ alongside himself and⁢ Jonah​ Russell. Together, they utilize a versatile set of cube-shaped frames – functioning as both poles ⁢and trapezes – to tell a compelling story and evoke strong emotions.

The performance contrasts the present day ⁢with the 1980s, recreating‍ the fear and shame surrounding the emergence of ⁣AIDS and the heartbreaking rejection experienced by those diagnosed. Originally conceived as an outdoor performance, premiering at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival​ in 2023 , ⁢the showS‍ transition to a black box theatre enhances its darker atmosphere.