This event will not be censored!
NAKED BOYS READING x NAKED QUEERS READING present a cavalcade of naked queers reading from books that were ripped off the shelves of Gay’s the Word bookshop in the homophobic ‘Operation Tiger’ raids in 1984. And now, it’s exactly forty years since they stood up against state censorship – and won following a European Court ruling in 1986!
Be led through a selection of texts curated by Adam Zmith and Brian Mullin, guided by your ever-so-fancy host Alfie Ordinary.
Over 800 books were seized. from lesbian teen romances to S&M manuals, erotic novels to feminist herbal tea remedies. So expect some lascivious, historical and charming cuts from a collection that they never wanted you to see.
And for the icing on our cakes? Our curators are writing a new musical about the story with composers Tom Rasmussen and Finlay Henderson. So, come celebrate this historic community victory and maybe be party to a sneaky preview of the most anticipated musical on the block!
We hope you can cum xxx
DOORS: 19:00
SHOWS: from 19:30-ish
Bios:
Alfie Ordinary: Drag Prince Alfie Ordinary is an award-winning drag artist, compere, bingo host and DJ. He's also the world's number one Gay Tinky Winky impersonator!
Adam Zmith: is a writer and multi-format producer. He is the co-author, with Tash Walker, of The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened (published by Faber in Jan 2026). His earlier book, Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures, won the Polari First Book Prize. He writes theatre shows, talks and podcasts, including Audible's Press Play Turn On which won Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards 2024.
Brian Mullin: is a queer writer and performance-maker whose work spans genre to examine hidden histories and stories of mutual care. Following his debut play ‘We Wait in Joyful Hope’ (Theatre 503), Brian’s texts for theatre, opera and devising work have played on stages like the Yard, Battersea Arts Centre, Summerhall and the V&A Museum. His experience living with HIV feeds his queer activism and inspired ‘Live to Tell,’ his autobiographical almost-jukebox musical about survival and reinvention.