Gay Men’s Guide to Safer Sex 97 – Director’s Cut (18*) + ScreenTalk Rob Falconer & guests
Time travel back to 1997 and see a new cut of Rob Falconer’s landmark film, a frank and unapologetically erotic guide to enjoying safe same-sex when resources for gay men were hard to access.
Five years after The Gay Man’s Guide to Safer Sex (1992), director Rob Falconer filmed a follow-up in 1997, as so much new information had become available since the original guide’s release. It features expert advice from medical consultant Mike Youle, fearlessly honest interviews with gay men talking about their sex lives and groundbreaking sex scenes, some featuring adult performer Aiden Shaw.
From kissing tips to full-on intercourse, this frank and sex-positive guide was a refreshing celebration of gay sex at a time when many LGBTQ+ people were pressured into feeling fear and shame. It is an invaluable snapshot of queer life in the 90s, too, backed by a pulsating techno soundtrack courtesy of electro combo Angel.
1997 (Director’s Cut, 2024) UK Dir Rob Falconer 55 min
Please note: this programme includes scenes of real sex.
This screening will be followed by a ScreenTalk with director Rob Falconer and Dr Will Nutland & Marc Thompson (co-founders, The Love Tank) and special guest Aiden Shaw, hosted by Selina Robertson.
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Booking fees
£1.50 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
No fee when tickets are booked in person.
Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.
Speakers
Aiden Shaw’s (aka Aiden Brady) bio reads more like a stream of consciousness. He’s written books, music albums, produced independent films, was the highest paid US pornstar. In NY he contributed to an interiors magazine, and one on HIV. He’s headlined Gay Pride San Francisco, sang naked in front of Bjork, acted alongside Tilda Swinton, and modelled for Jean Paul Gaultier.
Dr Will Nutland established The Love Tank in March 2018, having been one of the original founders of PrEPster. He has a doctorate in public health, from the London School of Hygiene + Tropical Medicine where he is an Honorary Assistant Professor, teaching in health promotion, and in applied communicable disease control.
Marc Thompson is a creative activist, health promotion specialist, an awarding winning podcaster and LGBTQ cultural archivist and has been at the forefront of HIV activism since his own diagnosis in 1986. He is the co-founder of Prepster, the Love Tank and Blackout UK.
Showing With
Sleeping Dragon
World premiere of a new film by Falconer – a moving tribute to artist, writer and long-term HIV/AIDS survivor George Hodson (1949-2023).
2024 UK Dir Rob Falconer 12 mins
Give a year of art, music, film and theatre
Cinema 1
Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.
Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you over the road to the venue.
Address
Beech Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Nearby public transport
We are within walking distance from a number of London Underground stations, the closest being Barbican, St Paul’s and Moorgate. The nearest train stations are Liverpool Street and Farringdon. Bus Route 153 runs directly past the Barbican along Chiswell Street
Car and bicycle parking
We have free bicycle spaces and paid car parking spaces available
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Access
Level access from the Pit floor foyer only to the two boxes (see Mobility below). All other seats lead off stepped aisles.
Mobility
Two boxes at the rear of the auditorium each have space for one wheelchair user and a companion. Please book early and ask for these seats.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the cinema – please tell us when booking, to ensure your seat has enough space. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the foyer staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
There is an induction loop in the auditorium. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
Access
Cinemas 2 & 3 are located at Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican Centre’s main Silk Street entrance. There are a couple of steep, dropped kerbs and an incline to negotiate between the two sites. Level access from Beech Street.
Mobility
Each auditorium has three permanent wheelchair spaces (two in the third row and one in the front row) and 153 fixed seats with capacity for a further three spaces in the front row. Access to each auditorium is up a ramp. There are also a number of seats with step-free access.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the cinema – please tell us when booking to ensure your seat has enough space. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the foyer staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
An infrared system for hard of hearing customers is provided in each auditorium; headsets or neck loops can be collected from foyer staff. The ticket desk counter is fitted with an induction loop.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
