'LOVE IN LOCKDOWN' EPISODE 18: 'IT'S A SIN' WITH TOBIAS CHARLES

                                                    

“IMPACTING TELEVISION AND LIVES"

A POIGNANT MASTERPIECE: ‘IT’S A SIN’

A deeply moving and important watch, certainly a Lockdown love for me. As many continue to wind down or switch off amid the pandemic by turning to some television, I recommend making this your next watch if you haven’t seen it already. It’s a Sin aired on Channel 4 at the end of January 2021, a series set in the 1980’s about a group of friends whose lives are changed irrevocably by the HIV/Aids Epidemic. It was written by Russell T. Davies and has been crowned the most watched drama series in Channel 4’s history.

As an eighteen year old gay man when the crisis first broke out, the series is loosely inspired by Russell’s own life experiences. The accredited Screenwriter, known for creating other popular series including Doctor Who, Cucumber and Years and Years, says that It’s a Sin was one of his most personal projects up to date and something he spent years building up to writing. As well as thorough research, he talked to lots of friends, doctors and mainly it was an act of remembering. He says, “I was actually there, I saw those people and knew those people and loved those people. It was time I got around to writing about them.”

He adds, “This was a part of history that we need to be reminded of. It is stories like this that need restating again and again. I’m very aware that younger generations are growing up not knowing anything about this period. And actually, let’s be honest, people who were there at the time don’t know anything about it either. And there are those who have happily forgotten such a bad time, and I don’t blame them for that.”

                                                 

The five episodes feature a sublime cast and detailed performances from actors including frontman ‘Years and Years’ Singer Olly Alexander, the accredited Keeley Hawes, Shaun Dooley and Neil Patrick Harris, and up and coming Callum Scott Howells, Lydia West and Nathaniel Curtis. It’s equally joyful, humorous, painful and heart-breaking. Beautiful yet devastating. Incredibly written and executed, very raw with humanity and love at its heart. Alongside the rollercoaster of emotions experienced when watching this touching yet tragic tale of a group of best friends, comes its educational power in bringing such subject matters to our screen.

It’s increased awareness and initiated conversations about the political and personal realities of what it was like living through the HIV and Aids Crisis. It’s educational and inspiring to see how far we’ve come, and it’s had a positive impact on working to reduce the unnecessary stigma or beliefs that surround HIV and Aids in our society today. Not only does it teach us about back then, it encourages progression right now, impacting television and lives. The show has had a positive effect, it’s led to an increase in people getting tested for HIV, and helped raise awareness about preventive medication and the effective treatment now available for people living with the virus.

I spoke to Tobias Charles, who played the role of Davey in the show, to find out more about the process of filming and why he feels so proud to have been a part of it.

IN CONVERSATION WITH TOBIAS CHARLES:

                                                       

“My name is Tobias, I’m cis-male, white, homosexual and 22 from Cambridgeshire but living in London as an actor; primarily in Musical Theatre. My degree is in Musical theatre at ArtsEd, graduating in 2019. It followed 6 fantastic years at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.”

Tell us about your audition and finding out you landed It’s a Sin?
TOBIAS: “My audition for It’s a Sin was brief – it was my first audition for screen and My wonderful agent Shane had encouraged me to go as, with Russell’s name on it, it was bound to be a formidable experience. I wasn’t holding my expectations high as I have quite damaged skin on my face due to years of acne and I’ve never been sure if that would hinder my prospects. Turns out you just need to find a job where your face isn’t the selling point!”

When and where was it filmed, tell us about the experience?
TOBIAS: “We filmed in Manchester in 2019 – it took about 6 months to film all of the moments that I was in with only 1-3 days filming each month. I had never been to Manchester before so that in itself was a new experience. Every time we travelled up for filming I found something new in the city that I loved. The experience was full of fun and that was due to the incredible people and personalities on set. Everyone truly was a lovely person.”

Did you get to read the whole script beforehand? Why do you feel it’s an important story to be told?
TOBIAS: “We did! We were sent the script before the first meeting and I made the mistake of reading the scripts on the train… in public... which ended with the poor woman sat across from me offering me a packet of tissues. It’s undoubtedly an important story and therefore the importance of telling it is undeniable. Personally, I think this story is so important because Russell tells us how, in a time that was more homophobic and scary, uncertain and ultimately quite sad, that, in the face of all that adversity they found joy.”

Do you feel this piece has impacted the LGBTQ+ community and the world at large? 
TOBIAS: “Hugely so, everyone involved in casting did a brilliant job of not only matching the actors to characters that they effortlessly embodied. But the actors playing those roles also had life experiences that spring-boarded off the media and the publicity of the show to tackle issues surrounding HIV and the stigma associated with it."

Can you sum up what the programme is about for those who haven’t yet seen it?
TOBIAS: “The show takes place during the AIDS epidemic in the 80’s but that is not what it is about. It is about love, and friendship, expression and joy. And Russell takes you through an autobiographical, informative and compassionate miniseries that everyone should be watching, because it’s not the 80’s that everyone knew or remembers." 

How do you feel this piece will impact views and beliefs surrounding HIV, reducing stigma and taboo? 
TOBIAS: “HIV testing rates are up, huge advances in medicine such as PREP and PEP and terms like undetectable, which have been around for years, are becoming wider knowledge to people they don’t directly affect. Exposure is key, and this has been great exposure for people like Nathaniel Hall to talk about their HIV status and trash that stigma.” 

Has being part of it impacted or changed you in any way? Your outlook or beliefs at all? 
TOBIAS: “I now believe that it is imperative for oppressed minority roles to be played by actors who are from that oppressed minority group. Gay actors should be playing gay roles, Trans actors playing Trans roles etc. There is still so much work to do off screen and only by giving the oppressed an opportunity to express their experiences authentically will we have a chance at igniting change.” 

Any last words regarding helping others during this challenging time? 
TOBIAS: “It really is a challenging time and I’m thrilled to say I believe I see a lot more hope for the future than we have in the last year. Be kind, enjoy yourself! I think we’re about to head into a post-prohibition-esque, 1920’s style mayhem period and you’re going to want to soak up every minute of it, because we deserve it.”