Well, the script we're working from is almost identical to the original version directed by Joseph Papp in 1986 and what's most alarming about it is the fact that it is still as relevant today as it was when it was first staged. This isn't a play that you need to update to keep it topical or interesting. In fact, I'd say with a bit of retrospect (and I'm speculating here because we haven't seen a 21st Century reaction in Britain yet) that this production is likely to be a lot harder hitting than our original 1997 version. It's not that we've edited the script, just that we're still living in a society where AIDS is a huge problem and the governements of the early 80's still haven't been held accountable for their ignorance and reluctance to get involved with a 'gay plague' and the subsequent deaths that their inaction caused. The statistics are also hugely different, giving strong resonance throughout the play that wasn't there in the 90's.

In what way?

To start with, our protagonist is seen as alarmist and overtly vocal about the impending epidemic. As a Jew, he continuously makes reference and comparison to the holocaust only to be shot down by colleagues claiming that the numbers are nowhere near comparable and analogies are tired and overworked. In 2007, we now know that a conservative estimate of AIDS deaths overtook numbers of Holocaust casualties in 2005 and that there are now 64.3 million people living with HIV and AIDS, compared to the estimated 55 million casualties of WWII. In our original production, we opened the show with a monologue about Africa, stating that though the play looks at a particular fragment of our society, we mustn't forget that this is a non discriminatory disease and can affect anyone. Our statistic were updated daily and our last performance in December 1998 had just over 32 million cases worldwide. That's doubled in the last 9 years. Years that incidentally boast breakthroughs in treatment and prevention. However, this play also serves as a catalyst to remind our LIVE 8 Generation that AIDS doesn't just affect Sub-Saharan Africa and that we all need to be re-educated.

Why do you think that after 25 years this is the case?

I think there are still an awful lot of people out there who think that there's a cure and that breeds negligence. Advances in treating and managing HIV in the Developed World have pretty much lead to it being considered a chronic disease instead of a fatal one and that itself has stopped people taking it seriously. There's still not enough being done to educate young people on how to be safe and those of us who grew up in the 80's are forgetting the fear that we felt when Aids first became a concernable issue.

What can those of us who watched the show in the 90's expect to see that's different?

The cast will be different straight away. We have a few of the original cast signed up, Neil Pearson will be playing Ned again and Tania Dron will be playing Dr Brookner.  This material is hugely appealing to artists to work on as it's dripping with substance and as such, actors have been falling over themselves to be part of the project.  I'm really excited to be able to work with a new company of actors that I genuinely consider to be amongst the best new talents around.  When my idea for the production was first developed, we were all pretty much starting out in our theatre careers, most of the cast had just graduated (Grant O'Rourke was still at college) and I had two directing credits under my belt. I think because of this, we were all keen to make an impact and tried too hard to be innovative. I'd just done workshops with Frantic Assembly and was determined that I wanted the show to be fusion of physical theatre and multi media performance and kind of lost my original vision for the show along the way. It became a bit 'tricksy' in all honesty and though it was very well received, looking back I think the gimmicks interfered with the integrity of Kramer's writing a bit. This time around we have ten years experience, a more experienced cast and I'd hope to think that I've become a better director