Brighton concert

The boys of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC), one of Europe’s largest gay men’s choirs, travel back to the nineteenth century for their Pride show, Mother Clap’s Molly House.

The show will tell the oft-forgotten story of queer lives in Georgian England. Set in the ‘molly house’ of old Mother Clap, the show tells the tale of how gay men met in secret in order to be themselves, to find love and, of course, to have a good party, says John McPherson, chair of BGMC.

“This year marks the 300th anniversary of the raid on Mother Clap's molly house, which saw many of its patrons arrested, tried and even put to death for sodomy. While not shying away from that, our new show is joyful and celebratory, reminding audiences that queer people have always existed and that the freedoms enjoyed now are built not just on the work of the Stonewall generation, but on centuries of resistance and persistence. It's a story with a serious history but we’re telling it with warmth, wit and no shortage of glitter.”

As the story unfolds, audiences will be treated to a mix of classic pop hits, old and new, plus some surprising additions to the repertoire. Envisioned as an immersive experience, audiences will get a peek behind the lace curtains of this hidden world and join a handful of characters as they navigate gay life in 1726 and all the joy and adversity that entails.

Joe Paxton, artistic director of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, said: “I’m always thrilled by the audience reaction to our shows, and Mother Clap’s promises to be even more special. Of course, we’ll be bringing our trademark variety of camp hits and heart-touching melodies, but this month we’re also really excited to bring the true story of Mother Clap and her rag-tag group of 18th-century gay men to the audiences of Brighton.”

The announcement comes hot on the heels of a run of highlights for BGMC, having sold out Heroes for two nights during Brighton Fringe, and having recently returned from a triumphant week in Brussels for Various Voices, the international LGBTQ+ choral festival, which they will co-host in Brighton when it returns in 2030.

“It's been a busy summer on other fronts too, with concerts in Rottingdean and a special performance marking the centenary of Varndean School, plus ensemble appearances including a performance at the Danish Embassy in London for Pride and two further special guest appearances lined up for the coming weeks.

“Over the last 21 years, the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus has gained a reputation for always putting on a good show, with complex singing arrangements that deliver spell-binding harmonies and moments of musical magic.

“Now with 150 members, the power of the Chorus's collective output onstage needs to be heard to be believed. Spanning from modern-day pop to classic disco anthems from the likes of David Bowie, Queen and ABBA, no one leaves a Chorus show without a spring in their step and a tune in their head.”

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will perform Mother Clap’s Molly House on July 24-25 at St George’s Church, Kemptown. Tickets from tickets.brightongmc.org at £20 or £15 for concessions.