A three part series marking the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of sex between men through the Sexual Offences Act of 1967. Simon Callow presents an exploration of 100 years of queer life in Britain seen through the lens of the arts.

The series has been produced in partnership with Tate Britain and their landmark exhibition Queer British Art 1861-1967. Simon's guide throughout the series is exhibition curator Clare Barlow.

In this second episode, Simon is joined by the novelist Sarah Waters, the director and playwright Neil Bartlett, and leading queer historians, biographers and critics.
He heads into the heart of London's Theatreland to reveal that, despite homosexuality being illegal, in the century leading up to the Sexual Offences Act, performers in theatres and music halls across Britain endlessly and inventively explored sexuality, gender and difference. Simon's passion for British theatre shines through as he demonstrates the cunning ways playwrights smuggled queer characters onto the stage, evading the censors by using coded stage directions that hinted to directors that a character was supposed to be gay.

We also celebrate the music hall, a riotous space where queer performers could be far more bold - embodying queerness whilst attracting huge audiences across the UK. Simon also pays a trip to the Parliamentary Archives to leaf through an extraordinary document that tells the story of the secret queer language of Polari which flourished in Britain's theatres in the 19th century.

Artists and performers featured include Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward, Douglas Byng, Danny La Rue and Vesta Tilley.

Presenter: Simon Callow
Producer: Max O'Brien
A TBI Media production for BBC Radio 4. Show less