About the work

Image Description

A twenty page downloadable PDF zine titled DELAY. In black pen the outline of the torso of a person wearing a plain t-shirt fills the white page and contains the title of the zine. It reads: “DELAY. A queer love story in a zine. Delay is a performance in a zine. It is designed for adults who live with autism. But it can be enjoyed by anyone. Created by Steven Fraser.”

Filling the page are five text boxes down the page that have the titles: “Delay is a Private Play” , “What Are Private Plays?” , “Who are Do it Theatre?” , “What is Autism?” , “Why Private Plays?”

Two large bright drawings of teeth and red lips smiling fill the page. Some of the teeth hold letters that spell out the phrase: “You are waiting for someone to arrive.” in a thick black pen. Above the teeth on the white page reads the title: “How Delay Works”

A person with dark short hair and large square glasses is sat on a chair; they are sitting on their hands. Surrounding them are boxes containing different phrases like “Sit on your hands”, “You said you’d be on time” and “Don’t check your phone again”. These phrases are floating in the air like thought bubbles.

A person with dark short hair and a stripy top is sat on a chair; they are holding onto their seat. Surrounding them are boxes containing different phrases like “Don’t text them back”, “Your life is not that interesting” and “Drink in right hand”. These phrases are floating in the air like thought bubbles. In the bottom left hand corner, a small yellow emoji is obscured by a large and blurry bright red cross.

The page is full of large faded angry floating heads that have different facial expressions. Some are shocked with their mouths open. Some are vacant with dull eyes. Some are angry showing teeth or appear to be shouting. They all have different hair styles and accessories. Overlayed on these faces are small text boxes containing phrases like “Stuck in the break of a wave” and “I wish I was better than this”.

A person smartly dressed with a tie, frustrated, with arms raised up above their head. Their eyes are clenched shut. Above their head is a speech bubble with the word “STOP!!!” Above this in the upper half of the page are many boxes containing the text that contain phrases such as “Another 5 minutes?” and “I’m not thinking about you anymore”. They are piled up and dense. In a fainter outline in the background are many open mouths appearing to speak.

A small speech bubble containing three dots, like typing in a messaging app, is multiplied all over the background of this page in a faint grey. They overlap and layer on top of one another, concealing the blank page behind. A figure with a blank head appears from a darkened doorway. Hands loose. Three text boxes are spread across the page from top to bottom. They read: “Wait longer”, “What should I do?” and “Breath in. Remember to be patient. Breathe out. You know it is. Ok.”

A white page is titled: “Is This Something You Feel?” with an exercise and text that you can read aloud in your head about having a conversation with yourself. It switches between words to say and thoughts to have.

A white page continues with an exercise and text that you can read aloud in your head about having a conversation with yourself. It switches between words to say and thoughts to have.

A white page continues with an exercise and text that you can read aloud in your head about having a conversation with yourself. It switches between words to say and thoughts to have.

On office paper horizontal lines are vivid blue and the margin line down the left hand size is bright red. The writing is in black; childlike and begins with: “Hi, Do you remember me?”

A grey pen drawing of a person with short dark hair fills the centre of the white page. They hold a large object that looks like a mask with vivid and expressive facial features outlined in red and white up to their face. Their own face is missing, with a distinct edge like a jigsaw puzzle. Above and below this drawing reads in large red and black letters: “How to make friends as an adult” “Put your happy face on”

Two figures stand facing each other. The left, wearing dark glasses and a shirt and tie points at the figure on the right with yellow short hair and wearing a stripey red shirt. The right figure bears their teeth. Each figure has a speech bubble rise above their head. The left reads: “Hi! Nice shirt!” The right reads: “Em… thanks.” In thick black writing below the figures reads: “Start a conversation with someone you don’t know.”

Zoomed in, a figure’s lower torso and thighs fill the page. They wear grey briefs and hairs line the edge of the underwear, stomach and legs. In thick black writing below the figures reads: “Wear sexy underwear”

Multiple faces with different appearances are contained in thick red circles outlined in black. Each of these circles have lines connecting the circles with arrows pointing in various directions. In thick black writing below the faces reads: “Network. Constantly.”

A hand holding a mobile phone fills the page. On the screen is a figure with short black hair and glasses in a shirt winking with a smile. The wall behind them is green. At the bottom of the screen reads: “Big Dude, online now, 7km away.” In thick black writing below the mobile phone reads: “Online Dating?”

In a two by eight grid filling the page are various drawings of different genitalia in black pen. In thick black writing below reads: “Do what you enjoy”

Three mouths with red, beige and pink lips showing their teeth fill the page one on top of the other. Inside each mouth on the teeth shows a different phrase. The top mouth reads: “None of this matters” , the middle mouth reads: “Cause you have anxiety” , the bottom mouth reads: “And it is making progress impossible”.

Covering the page in a faded grey are multiple text boxes with the words “Wait longer”. Over this background are credits for the work. They read: “DELAY” “Created by Steven Fraser” , “@stevenfraserart” “www.doittheatre.com” and “@doittheatre”

Audio Description