HIV unMasked is a one-woman play written and performed by Valerie Laub. HIV unMasked is a weaving of personal stories from Northern BC residents living with HIV and HIV education.
Funny, heartbreaking and uplifting, the play is told from the point of view of the HIV virus. Masks represent the people from our communities who shared their personal stories of living with HIV. They were incredibly courageous to share their stories, as the stigma associated with HIV is so great. Small changes have been made to their stories to maintain anonymity. They share the reality of living with the disease, the physical symptoms, the impact of stigma on their personal lives and other challenges they experience.
The combination of HIV education and prevention with poignant real-life stories touches the heart and makes it real. Our goal is to have all sexually active community members, make informed choices about how to stay safe and protect themselves from HIV.
Positive Living North partnered with Valerie Laub of Expressive Art Therapy to create an educational tool aimed at providing education in an engaging manner. Valerie Laub took great care with the stories the participants supplied. Many of the interviewees have seen the play, they enjoyed it and felt it is a good education tool and should be in the schools and seen by as many people as possible. Smithers Community Services Association’s Youth Empowerment Program created the soundtrack for the play.
This play was made possible by funding from Northern Health Imagine Grant, STOP HIV funding stream.