Russell T Davies announces drama based on 1980s AIDS epidemic
As his latest trilogy of work débuts on Channel 4, Russell T Davies is already onto his next project – which tell the story of a group of gay men during the 80s AIDS epidemic.
Cucumber, Banana and Tofu have just been released on Channel 4, E4 and online, and will in 2016 be followed by ‘The Boys’, which he describes as his most autobiographical yet.
While the drama hasn’t been written or cast yet, Davies said it will focus on a group of gay men, as well as one character who campaigned to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Davies said: “It’s partly looking back on your life, it’s partly because of my boyfriend [who has been seriously ill] I have been staring mortality in the face.
“I want to go into the bedsits – it’s called The Boys because it’s about the boys. And they will tell the stories of it, because there is a lot to say about it.
“I think we are reaching a bit of a generational thing where men like me in their 50s are looking back and realising how shocking it all was. We all ran away from it. I ran away from it.”
Going on, Davies said only few gay men went out on picket lines, and were rarely “waving banners and placards”.
“I mean that for myself. I didn’t go on marches. We didn’t quite believe it was happening.
“I had friends who died and I didn’t go to their funerals. I didn’t even write to their mothers. I was young and stupid and I just carried on. And I am ashamed. And I wonder why. Which is why I want to write this. Things you want to write just rise up in you.”
