Sadiq Ali's 'Tell Me' is a powerful and poignant tale that delves into the dark underbelly of the 1980s AIDS crisis, where fear, shame, and stigma reigned supreme. The show follows Phoebe Knight, a woman diagnosed with HIV, as she navigates a world that shuns her outcasts. Ali's masterful creation skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, revelry, and nightlife, only to confront the characters with their inner demons in a heart-wrenching climax.
With its innovative use of music, sound design, set, text, and dance, 'Tell Me' is a triumph of theatrical storytelling. The clever cube-shaped frames that double as poles and trapezes create an immersive experience for the audience, drawing them into Phoebe's world. Ali's performance, particularly in his iconic costume featuring horns and knee-high PVC platforms, adds to the show's raw emotion and unapologetic sensuality.
However, it is in its exploration of love, support, and acceptance that 'Tell Me' truly shines. The show's poignant intimate moments serve as a testament to the power of human connection in the face of adversity. Ali's decision to keep himself out of the spotlight, allowing Phoebe Knight to take center stage, is a masterstroke, underscoring the importance of marginalized voices and experiences.
If there is a criticism to be made, it lies in the show's uneven pacing during its second half. The introduction of the devilish minotaur creature feels like a jarring departure from the sharp theatrical choices that preceded it. Nevertheless, 'Tell Me' remains an exceptional piece of theatre, one that leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
As Sadiq Ali himself notes, advances in medicine saved his life in 2025 – but it is this very same medical progress that allows us to confront the AIDS crisis with a renewed sense of urgency. 'Tell Me' serves as a poignant reminder of the long road to acceptance and understanding that still lies ahead, but also of the power of art to bring people together in the face of adversity.
With its innovative use of music, sound design, set, text, and dance, 'Tell Me' is a triumph of theatrical storytelling. The clever cube-shaped frames that double as poles and trapezes create an immersive experience for the audience, drawing them into Phoebe's world. Ali's performance, particularly in his iconic costume featuring horns and knee-high PVC platforms, adds to the show's raw emotion and unapologetic sensuality.
However, it is in its exploration of love, support, and acceptance that 'Tell Me' truly shines. The show's poignant intimate moments serve as a testament to the power of human connection in the face of adversity. Ali's decision to keep himself out of the spotlight, allowing Phoebe Knight to take center stage, is a masterstroke, underscoring the importance of marginalized voices and experiences.
If there is a criticism to be made, it lies in the show's uneven pacing during its second half. The introduction of the devilish minotaur creature feels like a jarring departure from the sharp theatrical choices that preceded it. Nevertheless, 'Tell Me' remains an exceptional piece of theatre, one that leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
As Sadiq Ali himself notes, advances in medicine saved his life in 2025 – but it is this very same medical progress that allows us to confront the AIDS crisis with a renewed sense of urgency. 'Tell Me' serves as a poignant reminder of the long road to acceptance and understanding that still lies ahead, but also of the power of art to bring people together in the face of adversity.
the way sadiq ali's character deals w/ his diagnosis is so raw & honest it had me sobbing in the front row 
and don't even get me started on phoebe knight's storyline - she's literally the real MVP 
as for the pacing issue, i feel u but like, it's a risk-taking move to include that minotaur creature lol i mean, some people are gonna love it & others r like "what is this show trying 2 do?" 
anyway, if u haven't seen tell me yet, u gotta check it out ASAP - it's literally life-changing 
. The themes of love, support, and acceptance were so powerful and timely. I'm not sure what the show's creators were thinking when they introduced that minotaur creature in the second half though... it felt a bit jarring 
. Still, overall 'Tell Me' was an amazing experience and I think it's doing such important work 
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Sadiq Ali's costume choices were also mind-blowing, I mean who wouldn't want to wear PVC horns on stage? 
The music and sound design were incredible too, it added this whole other layer of depth to the show. But what really got me was how it tackled love, support, and acceptance with such nuance. It felt so refreshing to see a show that wasn't afraid to explore those themes in such a raw way. 
the way they used music, sound design, set, text, and dance to tell Phoebe's story is pure magic 
i'm still reeling from the emotional impact of this show, it's like my heart is breaking for Phoebe all over again. but what really gets me is how 'Tell Me' is bringing attention to the AIDS crisis and the importance of acceptance and support 
I'm totally obsessed with this new show "Tell Me" 
The costumes are EVERYTHING 
especially that iconic horns and PVC platform look 
Phoebe Knight's story is so hauntingly beautiful it had me crying in the theatre 
Can't wait to see what Sadiq Ali comes up with next! 
i'm not even kidding when i say i almost cried like 5 times during those poignant intimate moments 
what really got me tho was how much i related to phoebe's struggles with stigma & shame it's still so hard to talk about a2z & i wish we had more representation like this in theatre 
and omg that costume though!!!