Since 2019, the New Writing South team of LGBTQ+ volunteers have been collecting stories from their community across South East England. Working with a company of performers, these autobiographical tales have been woven together to create a new, digital performance – a highlight of the Hear Us Out online programme of events taking place at the end of November 2020, celebrating LGBTQ+ elders.
The programme’s Artistic Director, Dinos Aristidou, has utilised new writing and verbatim speech to create Hear Us Out, a joyful, poignant and heartfelt digital performance. Using the ‘Hear Us Out technique’ performers of all ages listen to the collected stories of older LGBTQ+ people through headphones and perform them “live” to camera, exactly as they hear them. There is no attempt to copy accents but the personalities of both performer and storyteller form a distinctive bond. The pauses, sighs, laughter, stutters and stumbles of the original recordings are embraced and preserved.
This digital celebration of LGBTQ+ life has been created with Brighton filmmakers My Genderation and composer Angèle Veltmeijer. The performance features memories of teaching during the Section 28 years and drag alter-egos, same-sex weddings and obtaining Gender Recognition Certificates, the impact of AIDS and ongoing LGBTQ+ activism – and joy. Lots and lots of joy!
“I hope for a time where differences in sexuality are celebrated and not scorned or persecuted. And of course the time for making these happen for the future is now and I want to be a part of that.” Barbara (storyteller) mid 60s
Rehearsing and recording the LGBTQ+ cast in their own homes has added a compelling intimacy to the Hear Us Out digital performance.
“Each performer transformed their personal space into a rehearsal room/zoom, stage, set and wardrobe – wonderful! We could not have planned for the closeness, the warmth, or the playfulness this glimpse into real LGBTQ+ life would add in our new digital world.” Dinos Aristidou, Artistic Director
Hear Us Out, the digital performance, premieres on Saturday 28th November and will be available online shortly afterwards. Tickets for the premiere are free and can be booked online via www.hearusout.live
The screening will be part of a series of Hear Us Out Online Events taking place between 26th – 29th November including Space/Walk, a new documentary centering on Black LGBTQ+ elders made by Marlborough Productions and commissioned by New Writing South specially for Hear Us Out, performances of new LGBTQ+ writing, a writing workshop led by poet Maria Jastrzębska, and an online gathering for older LGBTQ+ people and their allies.
Funded by Arts Council England and The Baring Foundation’s Celebrating Age Fund, supporting organisations to be open, positive and welcoming places for older people.
