Forty Years Out (And Counting): Performing the Archive

Rose Collis has been an out and proud lesbian writer, performer and activist for over four decades. She has witnessed, participated in and chronicled many key events in LGBT history, especially those affecting and emanating from the lesbian community. These include early Gay Pride/Lesbian Strength marches; the response to the AIDS crisis; tabloid media attacks; the creation of ground-breaking documentary Framed Youth; Gay’s the Word bookshop’s battle with HM Customs; the battles against Section 28 and her four years as the first lesbian co-editor of influential London magazine City Limits.

This rich, diverse history is the foundation of this new solo stage show with music, including songs written and performed by her, that will be ‘flagging up the lesbian history’. Combining acapella songs, humour, archive materials and first-hand testimony, Forty Years Outwill re-visit, reflect and re-enact some of the slogans, the sit-downs, the sorrows – and the solidarity. It will, quite possibly, make you angry, make you cry, make you laugh and make you proud.