We sat down for an exclusive interview with Claudio Macor, writer behind Savage. An extraordinary story, throwing a cold, harsh light on the horrors of conversion therapy.
This show runs until 15th March at White Bear Theatre – Tickets here
What drew you to the story of Carl Værnet, and how did you approach dramatizing such a dangerous ideology responsibly?
In May 2015 I came across an article by Peter Thatchell in the Guardian and my blood turned cold. I felt compelled to tell this unknown section of gay history. Adapting Dr Vaernet story into a play I wanted to show the effects of the horror as well as the gruesome experiments.
How intentionally did you shape Savage as a contemporary warning rather than a purely historical drama?
The very nature of the story is a warning in itself. It can happen at anytime again, in a different disguise but the same. With so many right wing governments around now removing gay rights, banning Pride, not recognising a gay couple with children as a family etc, my writing is a warning to us all.
The idea that “nature presents truth, not choice” underpins the play—how is this challenged through Zack and Nikolai’s relationship?
The very fact that a love story is introduced into the story, a love story that survives was hugely important to to show we can survive and have survived any destructive force thrown our way.
How did you balance historical accuracy with emotional impact when portraying trauma on stage?
The horror portrayed is accurate and the love story balances the audiences reaction to it
With conversion therapy still legal in Britain, what questions do you most want audiences to leave the theatre asking?
No one, not a single person I’ve spoken to knew that gay conversion therapy is still legal in Britain, I want the audiences to be outraged to contact their councillors, MP’s, lawyers, KC’s whoever will listen to get this monstrosity repealed. Enough already !!!
Do you see Savage as part of a broader effort to reclaim erased queer histories, and why is theatre the right medium for this story?
Theatre, film, TV whichever medium that tells gay history is vital to my work. My next step to turn SAVAGE into a movie but we all know how difficult that is, Gay history is very important to me, we must know what we went through to get us where we are today, and still a long way to go.