A musical show by the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus celebrating queer history and LGBTQ+ life in 18th-century England.
Brighton Gay Men's Chorus are performing Mother Clap's Molly House at St George's Church, Kemptown on Friday 24 July, with a second night on Saturday 25 July. It's a show that looks back at queer life in 18th-century England, set inside one of London's secret molly houses — the private gathering places where gay men met in secret. The timing isn't accidental: the show marks the 300th anniversary of the raid on Mother Clap's molly house in 1726, when the authorities broke into one of these hidden spots.
On stage, the chorus blends pop hits with history, pairing modern melodies with centuries-old stories. The show is described as joyful and celebratory, rooted in centuries of queer resistance, and it invites you to discover the lost world of the molly house and its louche, loud and lascivious inhabitants. It's a way of bringing that hidden history back into the light, told through song rather than just a lecture.
As for the chorus itself, the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus is the original and most fabulous gay men's chorus in Brighton and Hove. They're a registered charity built on three guiding principles: singing, socialising and support. Musically, they're a TTBB amateur male-voice choir — four-part harmony — led by Artistic Director Joe Paxton and Music Director Tim Nail. There are no auditions to join, so it's as much about the community as it is about the music.
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Tickets are £20, with a £15 concession. The show runs across two nights, 24 and 25 July, at St George's Church, Kemptown.
