Positive is a romantic comedy about Benji, a twentysomething gay man living with HIV. One year after his diagnosis, he decides it’s time to grab life by the balls and start properly living it again – despite whatever shame and stigma is thrown his way.
The play debuted as a self-produced one-act piece at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013. Following further development into a two-act play, it played at London’s Waterloo East Theatre as a one-off fundraiser on World AIDS Day that same year, where it sold out. Following more development, it returned to the same theatre from May 13 – June 1, 2014, where it picked up a heap of critical acclaim and an Offie nomination for Most Promising New Playwright.
In 2015 it had its biggest outing yet; becoming my first professionally-produced play, courtesy of Ann Pinnington Productions. It played at the Park Theatre, London, under the direction of Harry Burton, and more acclaim followed. It was also published by Playdead Press.
Director: Rob Ellis [Edinburgh 2013], James Callas Ball [Waterloo East 2014], Harry Burton [Park Theatre 2015]
Cast: Timothy George, Nathalie Barclay, Shaun Kitchener, Paul Heelis [Edinburgh 2013, Waterloo East 2014 & Park Theatre 2015], Sally George, Ryan J Brown [Waterloo East 2014 & Park Theatre 2015], Claire Greenway [Park Theatre 2015], Jamie-Rose Monk [Edinburgh 2013 & Waterloo East 2014], Will Marsh [Edinburgh 2013], Lorna Baillie [Edinburgh 2013].
“Kitchener can write a brilliant comedy sketch and he scatters them generously. Clearly, he’s a playwright to watch” The Times
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★★ Attitude
★★★★★ LondonTheatre1
★★★★★ QX
★★★★★ West End Wilma
★★★★★ So So Gay
★★★★★ Beyond Positive
★★★★ The Gay UK, The Public Reviews, Everything Theatre, Remote Goat, Viva la Musical!, Views From The Gods, ThreeWeeks, Broadway Baby, Boyz, EdFringeReview
SHAUN KITCHENER 
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