Launched three years ago, lesbian community theatre group The Drill Hall Darlings have been a resounding success story, regularly selling out the London LGBT arts venue from which they take their name.

The group began amid concerns lesbian history was not surviving, offering a platform for amateur performers to tell their stories of coming out in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Director Barcy Cogdale, who runs award- winning lesbian theatre company Ruby Tuesday Productions, says – to their surprise – they were “inundated” with women of all ages keen to share previously intimate histories.

“They weren’t necessarily just coming out stories either, some of them were about being lesbian separatists, love affairs with prime ministers – amazing stuff, though not all of it printable!”

Next month, Barcy will introduce the concept to Brighton on the inaugural Pink Fringe, which is being coordinated by the Marlborough Theatre. A series of workshops starting tomorrow will see the creation of the Marlborough Madams, a troupe of Brighton lesbians who will eventually recount their experiences of their sexuality in a performance with the original Drill Hall Darlings on May 23.

Barcy hopes the Marlborough Madams will continue after the Fringe is over, leading to the sharing of more histories.

“I find it exciting because you never know what people are going to come out with,” she says. “Women come along who have no drama background at all and they think they don’t have a story but they’re attracted to the social aspect.

They are of a certain age and don’t want to go clubbing or play bridge and they are the ones I find have these amazing stories to tell. As to what they get out of it, I suppose a validation of their lives, a social network, a safe environment – somewhere supportive where you can talk about anything really.”

The workshops are open to all lesbians of any age or background, with no audition process. Through “free writing”, when the group is asked to write as much as they can on a specific personal theme, discussion and mentoring, the best stories and anecdotes are drawn out for the end performance.

“It’s up to the individual what they discuss. I can guide them and the group is usually very supportive in saying what works and what doesn’t, but ultimately, these are their histories. No one is there to judge or say something is right or wrong. It’s very much about having fun and sharing.”

Barcy is excited about the project and about the launch of the Pink Fringe in Brighton. “I’m gobsmacked there hasn’t been anything like this before,” she adds, “I think it’s going to be really well attended. There’s definitely a demand for it.”

Other highlights of the Pink Fringe include Literary Bent, in which acclaimed theatre director and writer Neil Bartlett will join legendary drag act Bette Bourne in conversation; Sarah Leaver’s gender-bending solo show Memoirs Of A Hermaphrodite, and the elegiac Baltimore Waltz, by Pulitzer- winning American playwright Paula Vogel.

*See the full details and book online at www.brighton festivalfringe.org.uk.

*Workshops start at 2pm tomorrow, performance at 4pm on Sunday, May 23. Workshop places cost £45/£35, tickets for performance cost £7/£5. To book workshop call The Drill Hall on 0207 3075060, to book for show, call 01273 709709