BBC’s lost first documentary on homosexuality rediscovered and transformed into stage play
The BBC’s First Homosexual, a new play by Dr Stephen M Hornby, will be showing at Lantern Theatre in Brighton as part of LGBT+ History Month in February 2026.
In 1954, the BBC produced its first ever documentary on male homosexuality - a groundbreaking radio programme that was so controversial it was banned and shelved for three years. When it finally aired in 1957, only a heavily edited version was broadcast, and the original recording was subsequently lost. All that remained was a forgotten transcript, recently rediscovered after more than seventy years.
With the BBC’s permission, this historic document has now been brought to life on stage by multiple-award-winning writer Dr Stephen M Hornby. Originally commissioned for the BBC 100 celebrations, Inkbrew Productions will present the newly expanded The BBC’s First Homosexual national tour at the Lantern Theatre in Brighton on Saturday 7 and Sunday, 8 February 2026, as part of its national tour as part of LGBT+ History Month.
Known for creating plays from archive material and currently Playwright in Residence for LGBT+ History Month, Dr Stephen M Hornby was granted unique access to BBC archive materials including the original transcript, internal memos, and letters from the public in response to the programme.
He said: “I’ve woven fragments from the BBC’s archive with the fictional story of a young man exploring his own life. Through him, audiences see what life was like being gay in the 1950s and the impact the documentary has upon him.
"Several so-called ‘experts’ in the programme supported conversion therapy, and its influence on British society is still felt today. I suspect this partly explains why we are still campaigning to ban such practices.”
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