Aunt Nell Ltd has launched the new trailer for their upcoming documentary podcast Sing It Pink – The Story of The Pink Singers.
The series tells the story of London and Europe’s longest-running LGBTQ+ choir, The Pink Singers, who celebrated their 40th-anniversary last year.
The podcast will share the group’s diverse journey that reflects 40 years of change and growth for queer communities in the UK, as well as unlocking hidden stories of LGBTQ+ grassroots community music making from the 1980s to today.
The highly-produced, multi-voice documentary draws from archive news clippings, live recordings and first-person testimonials, as well as interviews with members of the choir past and present. Episodes will feature the following stories:
- The founding of the choir in 1983, and the queer grassroots music scene in the 80s
- Performing at Stonewall and Terrence Higgins Trust benefits and in London Lighthouse wards at the height of the HIV-AIDS crisis
- The diversity of the choir, from women’s rights and inclusion, to the group’s first trans members
- Interviews with musical directors past and present on arranging music for queer and trans voices
- The choir’s activism in the UK and abroad, including travels to India to march against Section 337, marching in Warsaw and Kyiv Pride 2022, and at London Trans+ Pride
- Love, marriage, and the story of LGBTQ+ relationships today told by members of the choir
The series is produced by Rachel Byrne, with assistant producer Marnie Woodemeade, and the executive producers are Tash Walker and Adam Zmith for Aunt Nell, and Chris Scales for the Pink Singers. Tash and Adam previously produced The Log Books, a documentary series that tells the story of Britain’s queer history through handwritten notes made by volunteers at Switchboard. The Log Books won Gold in the Best New Podcast category at the British Podcast Awards 2020.
Tash Walker, Co-director and Co-founder of Aunt Nell, said:
We’re so thrilled to partner with the Pink Singers to tell the full story—in intimate audio—of their incredible history. We’ve made it our mission to produce timeless podcasts filled with improbable connections and human stories.
When we heard about the powerful story of the Pink Singers, and the depth of their archive, we knew it would make for an extraordinary podcast series.
Sing It Pink has been carefully and lovingly crafted by producer Rachel Byrne. We’re so grateful to the choir for working with Rachel and trusting us all to make something special.”
The podcast comes as The Pink Singers received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £94,625 for their Sing It Loud, Sing It Queer project, which will archive and celebrate the 40-year history of the choir, working with the Bishopsgate Institute.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Dynamic Collections campaign has also funded a short documentary film made with Happenstance Films titled A Magical Journey of Queerness, showcasing a brand-new composition to celebrate their anniversary year. In addition the choir has also released a new album of their early live recordings, The Pink Singers: Hope Machine.
Chris Scales, Chair of the Pink Singers at 40 Project, said:
Forty years on, despite great progress for some, others in our community are still fighting for their right to even exist. Raising up our voices together in song for what we believe in feels more important than ever, and by learning about the trailblazers who led the way before us I hope we can find hope and inspiration to build a better future”.
We’re excited to unlock the story of the Pink Singers and look back on our journey, from a small gay group singing for our rights, to a diverse choir of over 90 LGBTQIA+ people today. This new series shines a light on the many wonderful ‘Pinkies’ who have sung with us over the decades, uncovering their grassroots queer activism and bravery striving for a better world in difficult times.
The Trailer for Sing It Pink – The Story of The Pink Singers will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Acast and more on 12th July 2024.
Tickets for The Pink Singers’ summer concert – “Everything’s Coming Up Pinkies A Musical Theatre Spectacular” are out now.
