Waiting for the Green Light

A lesbian comedian triumphs over misogyny, homophobia and a grim family history in this inspiring documentary

Comedian and singer Carol Prior has charisma to spare in this lively documentary about her life, her art and her ultimate triumph over considerable adversity. An incest survivor who constantly battles chauvinism and homophobia, Prior is an inspiring figure, and presents a rare positive depiction of a gay woman in 1980s TV.

In the 1980s Channel 4 programming had a well-earned reputation for celebrating diversity, and this beguiling record of the contemporary feminist scene is engagingly 'right-on', with positive feminist singalongs (the tunes are a treat) and laugh-out-loud skits. It doesn't shy away from Prior's disturbing family life - in a tragicomic routine, she remembers the time her bigoted father made a pass at her girlfriend. The documentary was made for Six of Hearts, a groundbreaking series exploring gay life in the 1980s. Prior continues to perform her music in venues in south-east England.