'How bona to vada your dolly old eek!'

We’re delighted to be hosting an interactive workshop with queer historian Dan de la Motte, diving into Polari - a fascinating and coded language once used by gay and queer men to navigate a time when being open about identity was not safe. Join us to explore its history, meaning, and legacy in a welcoming, community-focused setting.

In the decades before decriminalisation, gay and queer men spoke ‘Polari’ - a secret gay slang which was a patchwork language of Italian, Romany, Yiddish, Cockney Rhyming Slang, backslang and acronyms. By speaking Polari these men could ‘hide in plain sight’ - socialising, cottaging and cruising without fear of arrest or attack.

Polari is a playful, mischievous and sexy language, but also one that was spoken out of necessity. In this interactive workshop participants will learn the ‘rules’ of the language, decipher words, phrases and sentences, and make up their own sentences and…