First Time

Nathaniel Hall, Nathaniel J Hall

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781848429765
• eBook ISBN: 9781788503464
• Topic: Letteratura
• Subtopic: Teatro britannico

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

Pre-show:
I’m Not Ready

As the house opens, the stage is empty.

We can see a pair of legs sticking out from under the duvet which is tossed over the bench – someone is asleep on the floor.

The remains of a party are littered across the stage – burst balloons and paper cups.

The stage doesn’t look beautiful like it should before a show – the lights are yet to be powered up.

After a short while, and whilst the audience are still entering the space, the legs begin to move and a young man, NATHANIEL, emerges, wearing a grey dressing gown and a bright-coloured bum bag.

His hair is wild and he has white powder around his nose – he’s clearly been partying and is the worse for wear.

As he comes round, he notices people are being let into the space.

He frantically addresses them.

The following is ad-libbed and improvised live, his energy is chaotic, comedic but also with a hint of tragedy – he is clearly not in a good way.

Shit! Shit! Fucking shit!

No, no, no, no.

You can’t come in!

Shit, I feel asleep.

Erm, no stop, wait!

My worst nightmare.

We had a party last night…

Erm… shit.

Okay.

Okay, you can let them in I guess.

I’m not ready but… oh Christ, look at the state of me.

Is it that time already?

Just need to clean up this mess.

I’ll just have a quick whip-round.

He grabs a bin bag and starts to tidy some rubbish from the auditorium.

Anyone seen the Hoover?

Directly at someone in the audience who is giving him disapproving looks:

Oh yes, hello!

Haven’t you ever been to a party?

Let loose?

God, whose idea was it to do this in [venue name or area]?

Gang of stuck-up bastards.

He gestures to the technician’s box.

Joel, can we get some music on?

Loosen this lot up a bit.

‘Club Tropicana’ by Wham! plays.

He dances a bit.

Oh, that’s much better, get the party started again.

He spies something (or does he smell it?) and makes a beeline for it: a small drugs bag with some white powder in that has been left by a partygoer.

Ooh, someone’s left a baggie.

He gives a look: Shall we/shan’t we?

Be rude not to, it’s Christmas soon, isn’t it?

He counts the people in the room.

One, two, three… thirty… sixty-two… ninety.

Looking at the bag – it’s clearly not enough.

Not quite the feeding of the five thousand, but I’ll give it a go!

He sniffs the powder in one go.

Sorry, did you want some?

The ad-libs continue as the audience grows and he repeats the key information people need to know:

Sorry, wasn’t ready, went out last night and had a party.

(Holding up the baggie.) Getting the party started again.

Yes, don’t mind the mess, come on in, take a seat.

At some point the drugs very visibly kick in – he stops and stares straight ahead as they course through his veins.

Once everyone is seated, we segue to…

Moment 1:
The Morning After the Night Before

The audience are in and the signal from Front of House is given directly to NATHANIEL.

He looks confused.

Then he realises that means it’s time to begin.

His energy is frenetic – it’s funny but we see he is really struggling, physically and mentally – he’s in the middle of a mental breakdown.

That everyone?

Best make a start then, Joel.

The music fades and the lights dim.

(Referencing the lyrics of ‘Club Tropicana’.) Free?!

FREE?!

Have you ever been to Pike’s Hotel in Ibiza?

That’s where the music video was filmed.

Thirteen euros for two lemonades.

Twelve quid for a bit of fizzy pop.

I said, we’re certainly not in [local gay bar or club] now, are we, Toto?

He pulls out a gin bottle and takes a swig.

It’s a good job I always carry a back-up in my bum bag, for emergencies.

Oh, it’s real gin by the way.

He drinks the whole bottle – Wowee, that’s strong!

He moves the two boxes into place, one stage-left, one stage- right, ready for the show to start.

Sorry about the mess.

We went out last night.

Everyone came back here.

Things got a little bit messy.

Still managed to miss my get-in.

He spies some keys that have been left.

Oh, someone’s left their keys.

Oh, they’ve got a Waitrose Partner card, fancy!

Maybe it was that producer that’s been hassling me for a blowjob on Grindr?

I never did put out, in case you’re wondering.

I may look like a total trash-bag, but I grew up in Cheshire, thank you very much.

Ah, well, you snooze, you lose.

He licks off the ‘gear’ left on the keys and grimaces at the bitter taste.

Erm, it would appear I’ve lost track of time a bit.

This is awkward.

I’ve not really prepared anything.

I’ve only had two years, a commission, two grants from the Arts Council, an award-winning run at the Edinburgh Fringe, and a successful crowdfunding campaign…

It’s just hard to make a start, you know?

But this is it!

You’re all here, waiting to hear about my ‘First Time’!

He sniffs some white powder that he has pulled out of his bum bag – until the action of the sniff, he is unaware he is doing it, it’s second nature.

He looks at the audience and quickly puts the powder away.

You know, I had a nightmare about this.

In it, no one’s turned up except my mum, which is good because I haven’t learnt the lines.

So, I’m reading off the script, when Mum gets up and goes to leave and as she’s leaving, she says: ‘Not your best, good job no one came.’

He breathes in deeply and stares manically at the audience.

This isn’t the dream, is it?

I did make a start on the script, promise.

But I got distracted by listicles.

You know what a listicle is, right?

A series of pointless facts with a catchy headline aimed at distracting you from doing what’s really important:

‘Fourteen Hidden Signs Your Boss Secretly Hates You.’

I can tell you in one – you’re a cunt.

‘Ten Surprising Signs You’re Having a Mental Breakdown.’

Pause – that’s a bit too close to home.

I didn’t like the sound of that one.

I did print one off th...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Acknowledgements
• A Poem
• A Context
• A Glossary
• A History
• Production Photos
• A Play: FIRST TIME
• A Letter
• Workshops and Activities
• Support and Services
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information