Sadiq Ali is rapidly carving out his own genre of circus-dance-storytelling. Like his previous autobiographical show, The Chosen Haram, which grappled with growing up queer and Muslim, Tell Me draws on Ali’s experience of being diagnosed HIV positive. It’s performed by a trio of dancer-acrobats (including Ali) and loosely tells the tale of two characters’ diagnoses, as they try to reconcile living their lives with the threat that now exists inside them. 

As in The Chosen Haram, the piece oscillates between following the characters’ stories and riffing on themes. The circus skills are used to brilliant effect, placing the performers within a hair’s breadth of danger (as they leap onto Chinese poles or hang suspended from chains) but also showing their incredible vitality and resilience. A striking scarlet set and score that blends 80s disco with soaring choral music make it visually and aurally arresting as well as moving.

Tell Me, Summerhall, until 31 August, 7pm; picture: Alberto Santos Bellido.

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