First Time. Northern Stage. 12.2.20

Awarded various prestige’s during its run in Edinburgh Fringe 2019, what’s strikingly evident when watching Nathaniel Hall’s ‘First Time’ is how much the show desperately craves respect over pats-on-the-back from critics.  Heartbreakingly personal from the start, the beauty of ‘First time’ is how well it blends two autobiographical themes together; on the one hand a serious story about contracting (and living with) HIV, and on the other a comedic tale of youthful hedonism and coming out.   Somewhere in the middle, at the intersections of the story, are First Time’s most interesting and thought-provoking moments; the sensitivity and depth shown to anyone struggling with a potentially terminal illness, the humorous revelations which shut down any arguments about the glamour of nightlife, the ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Produced as a time-bending trip through Hall’s life, First Time uses a variety of stage techniques (first-person narratives, audience interactions, game-shows, participatory dancing) which provide access into Hall’s life at key moments; a clever move allowing the show to breathe and stay clear of any obvious light-to-shade-to-light again emotional journeys, though the journey, as with Hall’s life, becomes wild, unpredictable and full of surprises.  The journey also becomes a story which needs to be heard and discussed.  First Time takes both the respect and the awards.
 

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