Breaking boundaries and giving a voice to marginalised LGBT+ communities, Gay Sweatshop were one of the theatre groups that produced plays written about the gay experience at a time of media antipathy, the onset of the AIDS crisis and Section 28. Predominantly written and performed by gay people they helped to shape an alternative to the mainstream narrative and to celebrate the community.
For our latest project documenting and recording queer history, we will be revisiting some of the key, and some of the lesser-known, plays of Gay Sweatshop and their contemporaries who produced a series of plays that explored various aspects of gay identity and activism.
By examining the works of Gay Sweatshop and other relevant theatre groups, we can better understand the struggles and ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities both historically, and at the time of the productions.
We will also interview actors, writers, and audience members, documenting their firsthand accounts and experiences to explore the social and cultural context in which these plays were created for a podcast to be released in 2025.
By revisiting and celebrating the works of Gay Sweatshop and their contemporaries, we aim to ensure that their stories are not forgotten. Through this project, we hope to foster a greater appreciation for the LGBTQ+ community’s enduring fight for visibility and equality within the arts and the wider society.
Bijou Stories 