Bona to Nellyarda!

Polari’s editor, alongside Clayton Littlewood and David Benson, talks about what Polari meant at the height of its use in the 1950s and ’60s.

“At the start of the London 2012 Olympics, Polari Magazine joined Clayton Littlewood at the BBC’s new building in Portland Place to talk about the meaning of the slang Polari.”

Words from the Polari lexicon at Christmas!

A note about Polari words at Christmas, and a taste of Julian and Sandy with Kenneth Williams.

“Lau your luppers on the strillers bona!” Sandy instructs Julian, which is Polari for, in literal terms, “place your fingers on the piano keys well”. That would be “play something nice on the piano”.

An interview with Paul Baker, author of Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang.

Polari is a voice from another era, and is remembered best through the Round the Horne characters Julian and Sandy. Who better to explain the phenomenon than Paul Baker?

It’s important to remember the role Polari played in the lives of gay men and lesbians. It’s a testament to their creativity, humour and tenacity.