Forest Gayte Pride Lectures: Dan de la Motte – Polari, Secret Queer Language

Forest Gayte Pride Lectures: Dan de la Motte – Polari, Secret Queer Language

‘How bona to vada your dolly old eek!’

In the decades before decriminalisation, gay and queer men spoke ‘Polari’ – a secret gay slang which was a patchwork language of Italian, Romany, Yiddish, Cockney Rhyming Slang, backslang and acronyms.

By speaking Polari these men could ‘hide in plain sight’ – socialising, cottaging and cruising without fear of arrest or attack.

Polari is a playful, mischievous and sexy language, but also one that was spoken out of necessity. In this workshop learn the ‘rules’ of the language, decipher words and phrases, and make up your own sentences and mini-scenes for others to work out.

Dan de la Motte is a performer, and independent creative practitioner specialising in queer comedic performance and heritage. Recent work includes; Too Much Pills & Liquor (The Divine) On Railton Road (Museum of the Home) Live To Tell: (A Proposal For) The Madonna Jukebox Musical (Camden People’s Theatre & Omnibus Theatre). @Dandelamotte