Britain’s oldest active LGBTQ+ theatre company has held a memorial in Southwark to honour men executed for same-sex relations in the 19th century.
The company, Homo Promos, which was founded in 1988, held the memorial at the site of a former prison where several men were held before being executed.
Attendees laid a wreath in their honour, while Southwark Council deputy head Victor Chamberlain lit candles before giving a speech.
Chamberlain had previously campaigned for a memorial to be installed honouring the last two men Britain executed for same-sex relations, James Pratt and John Smith. Pratt and Smith were held there while awaiting trial.
In a speech during the event, Chamberlain said he had secured funding for the memorial.
He said: “We’re looking forward to working closely with LGBTQ+ communities, with historians, with anyone that’s got a personal connection or interest in this campaign and this story, to decide how we do that in the most sympathetic way.”
Peter Scott-Presland, director of Homo Promos, also spoke at the memorial about the experiences of several gay men who were held at the prison. He described how, after one man’s execution, “nobody visited him, nobody wanted anything to do with him and they refused to collect his body.”
Scott-Presland started his theatre company to protest a society that he felt discriminated against LGBTQ+ people.
He said: “It was founded as a response to Section 28, which was Margaret Thatcher’s legislation prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality as a ‘pretended family relationship.’ Being the superficial queen I am, I thought, ‘Oh, what a great name for a theatre group.’ Homo Promos – a promotion of homosexuality.”
Since then, the group has performed numerous shows focused on LGBTQ+ issues and experiences. One show was based on the execution of Pratt and Smith. Scott-Presland now plans to revive this production.
“That was rough and ready street theatre. I’m now trying to turn that into a proper, fully fledged ballad opera. Like The Beggar’s Opera, we’re going to call it The Bugger’s Opera,” he said.
Writer Nicholas McInerny, 65, attended the memorial after seeing a flyer promoting it. He said that he appreciated the opportunity to pay tribute to the lives of people treated unfairly for their sexuality.
He said: “At the moment, it seems like there has been some reversal on LGBTQ+ issues in the public sphere. I think that anything that can draw attention to the treatment of individuals in the past that could help to influence a more positive attitude in the present is a good thing.”
Other attendees expressed a similar interest in the men Scott-Presland spoke about at the memorial. Rebecca, who attended with her partner, said: “It’s a story I hadn’t come across. I found it incredibly moving, and I’m glad to hear there will be a memorial.”
Featured image credit: Nicolas Chinardet
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