The Lesbians of Forest Gate – Part Four

About this record

The Lesbians of Forest Gate is a new play derived from interviews with lesbian, queer, bisexual, asexual, transgender, and non-binary people living in Forest Gate over the past six decades. Created by Emily Wollenberg, an actor, theatremaker, and bartender at Forest Tavern, The Lesbians of Forest Gate explores how friendship, love, and activism shaped a community and remain woven into the tapestry of Forest Gate to this day.

Note: Two of the eight interviewees requested that their interviews be excluded from the archives for safety purposes.

Creating the Play

In June, Emily and co-writer Theodora Contin began scriptwriting. The work consisted of listening to interviews, analyzing transcripts, researching the queer experience prior to 1995, examining primary sources at the Stratford Archives, and weaving eight unique stories into a cohesive narrative.

In July, Emily and director Valerie Mo cast the play. They found the actors through casting calls, social media, and word of mouth.

The showed premiered at Camden Fringe on August 16th and 17th at Canal Cafe Theatre with a 60 minute run-time and received positive reviews. The audience was prompted to fill out a feedback form, which helped the writers edit the script.

The Lesbians of Forest Gate – Camden Fringe

The council has met to decide your fate…Have you been a bad lesbian?

It’s 1995, the afterparty is raging, and Amanda has put her situationship Kelly on trial for kissing a man. Now, the Lesbian Council of Forest Gate must hold an emergency meeting to decide what it really means to be a lesbian. Julie and Maureen are bringing the drinks, Dom’s stepping up as Kelly’s defence solicitor, Rowan is doing their best to manage a bunch of horny, high-strung dykes, and it’s just Margarida’s first day. Stay ‘til the end, because Heather has a big surprise planned for later…

Campy and heartfelt, The Lesbians of Forest Gate is a hilarious new play derived from interviews with lesbian, queer, bisexual, asexual, transgender, and non-binary people living in Forest Gate over the past six decades. The play touches on the hardships of the era while celebrating moments of defiance, solidarity, and queer joy. Through sharp humour and raw honesty, TLOFG explores how friendship, love, and activism shaped a community and remain woven into the tapestry of Forest Gate to this day.

Note: While the events of The Lesbians of Forest Gate are fictional, the characters are rooted in truth based on interviews with real lesbians and queer people living in Forest Gate.

Kelly (right, Meighread Dandeneau) tempts Amanda (left, Rebeka Dio) with a kiss before leaving to meet a friend. Photo by Dylan Zalikowski
Dom (Hadrian Conyngham) pitches their case to the Lesbian Council of Forest Gate. Photo by Dylan Zalikowski
The actors listen as the voices of the original lesbian interviewees play. Photo by Dylan Zalikowski
Kelly (left, Abby Walburn) and Amanda (right, Rebeka Dio) share a kiss, ignoring a phone call. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Maureen (center, Stephanie Abadom Stevens) dances at the Neon Sirens gallery party. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Julie (Lucy Burke) tells a story while at the Neon Sirens gallery party. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Margarida (left, Ana Sofia Caldas) waits for instructions from Kelly (right, Abby Walburn). It’s her first day as the new scribe for the Lesbian Council of Forest Gate. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Kelly (Abby Walburn) is sworn in on a book of Sappho’s poetry presented by de-facto council leader, Rowan (Sam Bampoe-Parry). Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Julie (second from left, Lucy Burke) catches Heather (center, Mal Owen) reading Diving Deep, Erotic Lesbian Love Stories during a council meeting. Kelly (left, Abby Walburn) and Margarida (right, Ana Sofia Caldas) look on, intrigued. Book courtesy of Amanda Wright, Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Maureen (Stephanie Abadom Stevens) presents her ID to the receptionist at the hospital where her brother is being treated for HIV/AIDS. The receptionist questions her relationship to her brother due to their different skin colours. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Maureen (left, Stephanie Abadom Stevens) and Rowan (right, Sam Bampoe-Parry) share a moment after Maureen returns from visiting her brother in hospital. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Kelly (left, Abby Walburn) and Amanda (right, Rebeka Dio) embrace. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
Heather (center, Mal Owen) surprises the group with a performance about her experience as a trans woman and a lesbian. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli
The group holds each other after shocking news. Photo by Lidia Crisafulli

The Q&A

Following the Sept. 26th Stratford Performance, Emily hosted a Q&A featuring some of the original interviewees. Maureen, Kelly, Amanda, and Julie participated.

Creator Emily Wollenberg moderates a Q&A with four of the original lesbians (from left) Julie, Maureen, Amanda, and Kelly. Photo by Caro Vinden
The four share a laugh after Julie shares a funny story (from left) Julie, Maureen, Amanda, and Kelly. Photo by Caro Vinden
Maureen (right) laughs as Julie (left) answers an audience member’s question. Photo by Caro Vinden
Audience members asked the four about seeing themselves represented on stage and the advice they’d give their younger selves, and asked Emily about the creative process and the project’s future. Photo by Caro Vinden
Actor Stephanie Abadom Stevens as Maureen (left) with the real Maureen who inspired the role (right). Photo by Caro Vinden
Actor Lucy Burke as Julie (right) with the real Julie who inspired the role. Photo by Caro Vinden
Actor Meighread Dandeneau as Kelly (right) with the real Kelly who inspired the role (left). Kelly was portrayed by Abby Wackler on the Sept. 25 and Meighread on Sept. 26. Photo by Caro Vinden
Actor Rebeka Dio as Amanda (left) with the real Amanda who inspired the role (right). Photo by Caro Vinden

To see the future of The Lesbians of Forest Gate, follow the Instagram: @unearthedtheatrecompany

Cast/Crew

Production Team
Creator & Producer: Emily Wollenberg
Playwrights: Emily Wollenberg, Theodora Contin
Director & Sound Designer: Valerie Mo (Camden Fringe) Emily Wollenberg (The Source)
Associate Director: Chiara Laferla (The Source)
Deputy Stage Manager, Lighting Designer, Marketing & Digital Designer: Caro Vinden
Intimacy Director: Liz Kent
Interview Transcriber: Beth Morgan
Costumes & Props Manager, Stagehand: Ellie Duenow (Camden Fringe)
Stagehand, Box Office Manager:  Isabel Hees (The Source)

Cast
Amanda: Rebeka Dio
Kelly: Meighread Dandeneau, Abby Walburn (Sept. 26th, The Source)
Maureen: Stephanie Abadom Stevens
Julie: Lucy Burke
Heather: Mal Owen
Dom: Hadrian Conyngham
Rowan: Sam Bampoe-Parry
Margarida: Ana Sofia Caldas

About the Creator

From behind the bar at Forest Tavern, queer creator Emily Wollenberg witnesses the daily lives of queer women, their lovers, friends, and families, and was inspired to document their stories. Using oral histories, archival research, sapphic love letters, poems, and art, Emily strives to make meaningful art rooted in queer history. She’s easy to befriend with spirited conversation and good cheese.

@emilywollenberg

Unearthed Theatre Company

Unearthed Theatre Company is a new, London-based theatre collective of international artists rooted in uncovering queer stories and history. Through intentional research and honest storytelling, Unearthed strives to dig deeper and shed light on communities so often written out of history.

@unearthedtheatrecompany

Additional record details

Heritage newsletter

We would like to send you monthly emails spotlighting heritage content in Newham, as well as updates and opportunities to be involved in next year's festival. Be the first to hear about new projects, funding opportunities and ways to be involved.

Sign up
September 2025