Did you know that in the 70s, 80s and 90s, pubs and working men’s clubs in the HU3 docklands area of Hull had a drag and queer performance scene that held a top spot in the north of England, alongside Manchester?
Several photographers operating at the time held images that documented this scene in their private collections, but there was no public access, so the Scene but not Heard heritage project developed to uncover this overlooked history. As part of the project’s investigations, the first exhibition can be seen at the HUFree Gallery at Western Library until September.
Developed by Three Ways East’s Encyclopedia of Us project, through conversations with photographers, drag performers and community members and by using local archives, the project explores a vibrant drag and queer social scene that existed in HU3 as part of the areas offer of entertaining nights out for hard working local residents. These were important grassroots performance spaces where queer and straight communities alike, gathered to express themselves, find connection and create a sense of community.
Many of the images featured in this first exhibition have remained unseen in private collections for decades, and it kickstarts the creation of a new, publicly accessible archive that will be hosted at the Hull History Centre, the Bishopsgate Institute in London and a new dedicated Scene but not Heard website. It brings together uncovered photographs, alongside historical finds and stories which seem to raise more questions than they answer about why and how this important scene developed in HU3. Whatever the reason, it meant a lot:
“I’d gone in with a friend of mine…. we were both very giggly because we’d seen that they had a drag act advertised, I’d never seen a drag act in person…the music started and the lights did and then we were just flooded with sensation, flooded by a riot of sequins and colour and feathers and music and it was just WOW! You know as a young gay guy, who had come out with family, I was still finding my feet and didn’t know where I really fitted in with society. If I could take you back there… it felt like a safe place, very safe place.’” Brian Smith, AKA MIss Fanny
It was this lively and raucous scene that drew the attention of a group of photographers, as photographer Russell Boyce commented: “This chaos was like a magnet to me. Only the bravest or foolish would try to get a drink while Kandy was performing, the danger of being singled out was just not worth the risk.’
The Scene but not Heard project is made possible by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England’s Everyday Heritage grant programme and the Humber Museums Partnership, all as part of a drive to uncover the histories of working class and marginalised communities.
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are incredibly proud to support the ‘Scene But Not Heard’ project celebrating the vibrant LGBTQIA+ working class heritage of Hull. This grant, made possible by National Lottery players, ensures that the voices and memories of this community can be heard for generations to come.”
Sandra Stancliffe, Head of Community Heritage, Inclusion and Learning at Historic England, said: “We are delighted to support Three Ways East’s ‘Scene but not Heard’ project as one of 56 community led projects across the country that explore diverse stories of people and places. This project celebrates the 1980s’ and 90s’ LGBTQIA+ and drag performance scene of working-class pubs and clubs in the HU3 docklands of Hull. As legendary performers retire and the scene evolves, this project connects generations of locals across the LGBTQIA+ community.”
The project reflects the importance of recognising LGBTQIA+ working-class histories as a vital part of Britain’s cultural heritage and preserving the stories of communities whose experiences have too often gone undocumented.
The Encyclopedia of Us (EofUs) has developed out of a long-term collaboration with HU3/ Docklands communities of West Hull, artist Kate Genever and arts company Three Ways East. Collectively we make visible and hold safe HU3’s many stories, while working alongside its communities of residents, artists, groups, businesses and organisations… to imagine and shape the future. Our ambition is to create congenial spaces in place, in print, in person.
In HU3’s 80s and 90s docklands a vibrant drag scene thrived with performers, musicians and club owners creating unforgettable nights. Behind the scenes photographers quietly captured it all. Their images were recently discovered by Kate Genever and now form a vital record of the local drag and LGBTQIA+ culture showcased in the Scene but Not Heard project with heritage support.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations.
We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
We are Historic England, the public body that protects and brings life to the heritage that matters to us all, so it lives on and is loved for longer. From the extraordinary to the everyday, our historic places and spaces matter. From community centres to cathedrals, homes to high streets, markets to mills – there are special places we all choose to hold onto, the legacy we want to pass on and the stories we continue to tell. That’s why we work together with people across England to discover, protect and bring new life to our shared historic environment, providing advice, knowledge, support and services. Follow us on social media @HistoricEngland.
Exhibition Information
HuFree Gallery, Western Library, 262-264 Boulevard, Hull, HU3 3ED
Open: 10th June – 6th September, Mon & Thurs 1pm-6pm, Tues 9:30am-1:30pm, and Sat 10am-1pm
Admission free
Visit: https://eofus.co.uk/scene-heard/
Follow: @EofUsHU3