This week marks the beginning of the  40th annual Guelph Sexuality Conference, hosted by the University of Guelph. The three-day event kicks off on Wednesday, June 13 with a community workshop, Pleasure is For Every Body: An Exploration of Sex and Disability, and, as a featured 40th anniversary event, a special theatre presentation of 5 Guys Chillin’ – both of which are sponsored by the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences.

Woven together using the real words of guys found on Grindr, 5 Guys Chillin’ is a state of the nation play by Peter Darney that addresses one of the most urgent issues facing gay men's communities today. In 5 Guys Chillin’, we spend an evening with five guys shining light on a complex, and sometimes dark, subculture of guys who like to party ‘n’ play (PnP). We see up close the nuances of navigating sexuality, sexual encounters, and sexual health, along with the role recreational drugs play in the lives of these men. With more gay men experiencing problem substance use in the PnP (or ChemSex) scene, this taut, sexy, and unflinching verbatim drama has never been more important.

The play will be followed by a TalkBack—facilitated by Guelph Sexuality Conference committee member Rahim Thawer and community experts—to educate the audience on pressing issues, including the opioid crisis, policing of sexuality, and the interface of technology within relationships.

Performed by Theatre Topikos and directed by Nick May, 5 Guys Chillin’ has played to sold-out audiences in Dublin, New York, Sydney and London; only 65 seats are available for the Guelph performance. Interested participants can attend the play on Wednesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at Silence Sounds [1], a Guelph venue that fosters risk-taking, innovation and experimentation.

Wednesday’s events, presented by the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS), are open to anyone, with no conference attendance required. Visit the Guelph Sexuality Conference website [2] to purchase theatre and conference workshop tickets.