MUSEUM exhibits will be brought to life at Bolton Museum.

Museum Monologues is a series of live performances featuring the stories of five of Bolton’s LGBTQ pioneers.

The unique event has been organised to coincide with the museum’s current exhibition, Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories in Bolton, which includes the stories and items belonging to the five.

Actors will portray Victorian era male impersonator Vesta Tilley, author Matt Cain, renowned photographer Humphrey Spender, a young member of the LGBT Youth Group Liaison Initiative and J. W. Wallace who corresponded with America poet Walt Whitman.

The monologues have been produced by local writers and performers, playwright Stephen M Hornby and Inkbrew Productions.

One of the monologues is of Matt Cain, the best-selling author who grew up in Bolton.

“I never thought I’d end up in a museum at the age of 44,” laughed Matt.

His adolescence is captured in one of the displays at the museum which demonstrates what a huge fan he was of Madonna.

Matt suffered homophobic bullying when he was young but by being strong, and true to himself, he went on to become a huge success. Prior to becoming an author he was the editor of Attitude magazine.

“He said: “It is a massive honour and privilege to be part of the exhibition. The library and museum have always been central to the spirit of Bolton.”

Matt’s book, The Madonna of Bolton, which is loosely based on his teenage years, has just been published in paperback and at 7pm tomorrow evening, he will be discussing it in the library with Bolton Pride founder James Edgington.

The monologues will be performed in the temporary exhibition gallery (just walk under the rainbow) on the following dates: Thursday, May 16 (3pm, 5pm and 6pm), Friday, May 17 (12pm and 3pm), Saturday, May 18 (11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm (signed performance), Saturday, 25 May (11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm).