Stories
List of News Articles
Gallery: Clean Break Archive
Summary: Clean Break Theatre Company was founded in 1979 by two women who met in prison and believed in the power of theatre to transform lives.
Gallery: London's LGBTQ+ nightlife
Summary: London is often seen as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community, with queer nightlife providing a chance for connection, community, and escapism.
Lives from the Archives: Peter Wilson (Eton Manor Boys' Club member)
Summary: Peter “Wiggy” Wilson was a member of the Eton Manor Boys' Club in London’s East End during the 1960s. Founded in 1909 in Hackney Wick, Eton Manor was financed and managed by four Old Etonians (Arthur Villiers, Gerald Wellesley, Alfred Wagg, and Sir Edward Cadogan) until it closed in 1967.
Article: Lunchtime concerts - A story of wartime unity
Summary: Music and performance have long been at the heart of Bishopsgate Institute's public programme, with our lunchtime concerts running throughout the twentieth century.
Gallery: A look back at London's pubs
Summary: We're thrilled to be home to archives that document the history of London, and we're continuing to celebrate this history through our online courses about the East End and Victorian London.
Lives from the Archives: Dan Glass (LGBTQ+ activist)
Summary: Dan founded "Queer Tours of London", which shine a light on London's rich LGBTQ+ history.
Interview: Ben Ferguson and Paul Saunders - A night at the musicals
Summary: Celebration of theatre and performance is at the heart of what we do, with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra (LMTO) being our orchestra in residence.
Gallery: Jean Fredericks' Drag Balls
Summary: We've delved into the Robert Workman Archive to relive one of Jean Fredericks' legendary Drag Balls. Workman visited the Ball in 1976 to capture the 'goings-on' for Gay News, and we're thrilled to hold these photos.
Lives from the Archives: On The Record (oral historians)
Summary: OTR are an oral history organisation that inspire social change. They record the memories of people and places, and then turn them into podcasts, books, artworks, websites, and audio walks.
Lives from the Archives: Natasha Walker (Co-Chair of Switchboard)
Summary: Switchboard is an LGBTQ+ Helpline that was established in 1974 as “London Gay Switchboard” and took its first call on 4 March.
Event: Pride & Prejudice - Discussing Clause 28 with Peter Tatchell, Lisa Power MBE, and Michael Cashman MEP
Summary: On 8 November 2012, we hosted the "Pride & Prejudice" talk with Peter Tatchell (Peter Tatchell Foundation), Lisa Power MBE, and Michael Cashman MEP (Labour politician, founder of Stonewall).
Lives from the Archives: Buster (Mr Leather UK 2019)
Summary: Since 2016, Bishopsgate Institute has been home to the UK Leather and Fetish Archive, dedicated to documenting the history and heritage of fetish, kink, and BDSM in Britain and beyond
