How DO you measure a man? My plus one and I pondered this as we made our way to the Gasworks Arts Park to see ‘The Measure of a Man’, a play by critically acclaimed queer artist Gavin Roach.
We came up with quite an extensive list of answers, but I can safely say not one of them was quite as confronting as what Roach had to say on the matter, returning to the Midsumma festival with the second installment of his ‘Anxiety Trilogy’, following on from ‘I Can’t Say The F Word’.
After being ushered into the pitch black, intimate wee theatre, a spotlight was shone on Roach. He sat on a chair in the dark in tight briefs, a denim jacket, socks and a leather cap. He plunges straight into things with the statement: ‘The first time I measured my penis I was thirteen.’ Happily for him, he discovered he’s comfortably above the national average. But sadly that’s about the only thing he has to brag about. He goes on to share intimate details of feeling like a failure as a young, gay man because of his inability to have sex and his desire to cuddle instead.
Roach doesn’t hold back with details, his honesty leaving him completely exposed. He fully engaged the audience with only his words, which were delivered with a raw, powerful intensity.
At the end, my plus one and I just wanted to go up and give him a big cuddle.
-Claire
Claire Henderson is a passionate lover of food, fashion, and all things fun and fabulous.
‘The Measure of a Man’ runs 1-6 February at Gasworks Arts Park. Purchase tickets now. The venue is accessible.
