'After Peter' reflects on HIV and social stigma

HIV is still latent, and despite the decades that have passed since its popularization, some aspects of the disease's social implications remain.

Starring Antonio Saavedra and Gerardo Gallardo , the play Después de Peter is set in New York in the 1980s, in the midst of the HIV crisis, and portrays the relationship between two artists marked by the disease.

"It's pertinent because it brings this issue and everything it entails back to the forefront, including the lack of information and the stigma that, despite the years, remains latent," explained José Uriel García Solís in an interview with this outlet.

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Marcelo Treviño 's text is inspired by the life and work of creators David Wojnarowicz and Peter Hujar , emblematic figures of art and activism during that era. "What I seek is to create a bridge between our reality and what those years were like, so that the viewer can witness the story of two men who love each other and are affected by this pandemic. The work addresses, at its core, the theme of grief ," noted the director.

Although not intended as a historical recreation, Después de Peter proposes a stage language that combines the aesthetic proposal of designer Natalia Sedano and the psychoacoustic atmosphere of Iker Vicente.

This seeks to evoke the sensibility of the 1980s and immerse the audience in a territory marked by memory, loss, and resistance.

The plot follows David, a young artist trying to survive the death of his partner in 1987.

Between memories, rage, and love, she embarks on an intimate journey through what remains when absence and oblivion prevail over marginalization. “It speaks to a loss, and that affects us all. If we add injustice, discrimination, and the absence of a state that supports human rights, the subject moves us deeply,” she stated.

The director, who belongs to the LGBTQ+ community , highlighted that working on this production led him to question taboos even within his own environment.

"The work is a catalyst for speaking honestly and rethinking personal positions. It's a way to pay tribute to artists like Wojnarowicz and Hujar, but also to many others whose names we may not remember, but thanks to whom we have rights today."

For García Solís, After Peter is also an invitation to consider the role of theater as a living memory and space of resistance.

"It's not a nostalgic act, but rather a dialogue with our present. Theater can open a space for reflection on dignity, identity, and the losses we have all faced," he said.

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The production is part of a period of renewal for national drama . Since it's an award aimed at authors under 30, the director explained, it encourages the emergence of new voices and themes.

“There is a boom in Mexican playwriting, with diverse styles and approaches. This award encourages young theater to be alive and constantly evolving, and it is an honor for me to bring to the stage a project like that of Marcelo Treviño, a playwright who is just 26 years old,” the director concluded.

After Peter will be at the Teatro Helénico for a season from September 24 to October 30.

The play won the 2024 Gerardo Mancebo del Castillo Trejo National Young Playwriting Award , which recognizes authors under 30 years of age.

The text was written by Marcelo Treviño , a 26-year-old playwright originally from Monterrey.

It is led by José Uriel García Solís , artistic director of La Gorgona Teatro, with experience in national and international festivals.