In the 1970s, Burnley became the UK’s battleground for gay and lesbian rights, with two public struggles at either end of the decade.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, LGBT History Month nationally has commissioned two new dramas from Inkbrew Productions to recreate this forgotten history.
Both plays will be performed in February and March at the original sites of the events in Burnley and as a showcase in Manchester and Liverpool. The two plays will be performed as a double bill created with professional actors, writers and directors working with volunteers and a series of local community partners: Burnley Youth Theatre, Lancs LGBT, Burnley Mechanics, Burnley & Pendle Libraries and Hidden Histories.
The Burnley Buggers’ Ball tells the story of a transformative public meeting held at Burnley Central Library in 1971 while Burnley’s Lesbian Liberator dramatises the political activism of Mary Winter, a bus driver sacked for wearing a Lesbian Liberation badge.
Performances at Burnley Central Library are Feb 18 and 25. The Liverpool performance is at Bluecoat on March 4. Tickets are free on Eventbrite.
The showcase performance is at the Martin Harris Centre, Manchester on Feb 24.