16/05/2023
The Tobacco Factory in our home city of Bristol has always welcomed LGBTQIA clientele and put on events for the very gay friendly BS3 district. “B247” newspaper gives thumbs up to a great inclusive exploration of disability sex and relationships that was held at the Tobacco Factory in mid April. In “Animal”, Christopher John-Slater is David, a 25 year old prospective journalist and part-time public speaker. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy, a condition that affects everything in his life. Key to the play’s subject is that it also inhibits him intimately. David wants the sexual intimacy that many gay men would like in their lives and as such he delves into the world of the dating app GRINDR. Harry Singh co stars as David’s lifelong friend Mani, whilst Joshua Liburd is Liam, who at first is just one in a line of David’s hook-ups but soon becomes something more. Hilarious, challenging and heart-breaking, ANIMAL won the inaugural Through The Mill Prize supported by gay playright Jonathan Harvey and was shortlisted in the top five for the Papatango Prize out of more than 1,500 entries. Gay scene magazine QX reports that “Animal” continues to tour nationally to rave reviews.
