Review: MEASURE OF A MAN Breaks Down the Barriers at New Theatre

The parameters for what is deemed taboo in contemporary culture, especially Fringe culture, have vastly changed in recent years from topics deemed too controversial to topics deemed too personal. Gavin Roach's one-man mastery of the personal, entitled Measure of a Man, definitely broaches and breaches taboos of homosexual stereotyping, male sexuality and the trappings of masculinity. At moments shocking, hilarious, and provocative, Roach entwines traditions of storytelling, incorporating mime, cabaret and technical recourse to tell his story of a sex life full of misgivings and misinterpretations of what makes a man in the bedroom.

The production itself remained simplistic, minimalist which the direction of Lauren Hopley stayed true to, keeping the engagement between artist and audience direct and literal. Nuances of emotion were threaded through in Roach's compelling text and highly effective lighting design by Lachlan Barns. Interlaced in the story were the voices of friends, lovers and Roach's internal diatribes to give punch and context to how the artist has set about responding to these traumas of self and other.

Measure of a Man's strength is in its connection to communities at large who experience the trials of sexual diversity in a heteronormative society, compounded by the prejudice against diversity of sexual activity within those communities. Issues surrounding body mechanics, genital size, sexual expectations are all very few society has permitted men to explore or express beyond the virile, insatiable, oppressive stereotype. Roach's work does an admirable job of not only breaking down the walls to these issues, but in his sensitive prose normalises and endears the engagement with them.

Measure of a Man is the second instalment of Roach's Anxiety trilogy, the first part of which, I Can't Say the F Word, received much acclaim similarly for its intimacy and honesty. His work Confessions of a Grindr Addict was also lauded and sent to Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2012. More information about Gavin and his work can be found here.

Images by Jarrod Rose.

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