Manchester’s First Drag Ball?

Manchester drag royalty Cheddar Gorgeous looks at whether a “Drag Ball” in 1880 kicked off Manchester’s famous LGBT+ scene.

By the 90s the LGBT+ party scene in Manchester was famous enough to be known as Gaychester – but why did Manchester become known for its queer community?

Each episode of In This Place: Gaychester looks at a different aspect of the city’s queer history.

If you’re in Manchester, you can use this podcast as a walking tour and visit the locations spoken about.

If you stand on the corner of Fountain Street and York Street you’ll find a rainbow mosaic – this is the spot where it’s believed the 1880 Fancy Dress Ball took place.

Presenter: Cheddar Gorgeous Producers: Robert Beck, Jo Deahl and Jo Newsholme Editors: Nicky Edwards and Sam Turner

Thanks to Ric Brady and Stephen M Hornby for the audio of their play “A Very Victorian Scandal” and to the performers Graham Eaglesham, Gareth George, Mark Roberts, Joel Parry and John Smeathers