Paul Woodward hardly needs an introduction, he is an active member of the community having worked and contributed extensively to the HIV sector. Paul is British performance academic and storyteller, member of the Positive Speakers Bureau and currently completing his PhD in the Performativity of HIV Disclosure at Monash University. Paul has written and performs in the autobiographical theatre-work Fathers & Feathers, which was recently performed at the Victorian College of the Arts. Paul dedicated the performance to Living Positive Victoria’s Max Niggl, who inturn has written this review of the work for us:
Paul Woodward’s 55 minute solo show at the Victorian College of the Arts last Friday 4th April. It was pure theatre, yet a minimalist and magnificent show that drew everyone into his tightly scripted and physical demanding performance. Most of the audience was transfixed and on a roller coaster ride as we grappled with our own familial relationships. Paul’s ability to make the most of his extraordinary theatrical craftsmanship immediately engaged the audience.
It is a storytelling piece tracing moments of his relationship with his late father, which he also performed in London last October. This show was a second incarnation and featured Brodie May and Bryan Smith portraying his mother and father and other minor roles. Brodie and Bryan’s poignant and sometimes funny portrayals allowed Paul to focus on his story. Their interactions on stage showed the ebb and flow of a son’s relationship with his parents and with his partners and lovers.
The scene where he is subjected to physical violence and threatened with being murdered was compelling and very confronting. Another compelling scene was of Paul digging a grave in Africa where I felt we were there in the hot sun digging into the hard earth and grieving for others. Following on from that he painted the most beautiful story of the sun rising after the funeral and how life continues on.
Paul’s late father Derek seems to upstage him at times as the audience laughs, cries and relates so vividly to elements of his story such as coming out, acceptance of sexuality and of a life so fully lived. The finale with his mother’s words about his father’s love, then the significance of the three cast members holding hands like paper dolls portrayed both a love of life and the fragility of life.
The spellbound audience and the long applause then the silence afterwards showed how much Paul impacted upon our thinking about ourselves
BRAVO and a must see if you ever get the chance.
For more information about Paul, visit www.paul-woodward.com.
Living Positive, Living Great! 