About

Buddies

Director: Arthur J Bressan, Jr.

In anticipation of World AIDS Day.

Released in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, Buddies was the first feature film to address a crisis that many were reluctant to discuss. Directed by Arthur J Bressan, Jr., an audacious filmmaker whose work included gay pornography, documentary and fiction, the drama tells the story of a young man named David who becomes a voluntary ‘buddy’ for an AIDS patient named Robert. As the two men spend more time together, a profound friendship develops and the pair soon grow to depend on each other more than they would ever have anticipated. Bressan died two years after the film’s release from AIDS-related illnesses, but the impact of his film endures to this day.

Plus short film:

Frank’s Cock

Director: Mike Hoolboom. 1994. Canada. 8 minutes.

Mike Hoolboom, one of Canada's most prolific experimental filmmakers, uses multiple screens as a backdrop to a man, facing the camera, telling the story of a relationship severed by AIDS. The visuals are hypnotic - here, the stark beauty of an individual, shot in black and white, is juxtaposed with a stream of impressionistic colour images. In a beautifully modulated performance, Callum Rennie plays a character whose lover, Frank, is dying. The emotional tenor of Rennie's monologue builds delicately but steadily, as the details of his relationship with Frank unfold.

Please be aware that Frank's Cock contains some graphic sexual imagery.

General Information

Guests with Mobility Impairments

Guests who use a wheelchair or experience mobility impairments are asked to call the box office on 01273 678822 or email info@attenboroughcentre.com so that we can assist you to find the best seat to suit your requirements.

Pay What You Decide

There is an allocation of Pay What You Decide (PWYD) tickets available to guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Come and see the show without paying anything in advance, and then pay what you think is appropriate at the end of the show. Maximum of four PWYD tickets per person. Please phone the box office on 01273 678822 or email info@attenboroughcentre.com for further information.

Concessions

The concession rate is available for students, University of Sussex staff, Over 60s, and people in receipt of JSA or DLA/PIP. Proof of eligibility may be required on the door or at the box office (if collecting). Personal assistance tickets are available for free for customers who would otherwise be unable to attend the venue. Please contact the box office on 01273 678822 or email info@attenboroughcentre.com for further information.

Box Office Opening Times

The box office (phone line and drop-in service) is open from 10am to 4pm, Mondays to Fridays. The box office is also open one hour before the advertised show start time.