Noisy Protest Over Club’s Entertainment (Press, 30 May 1985)

On the evening of 29 May 1985, a lively and at times confrontational protest took place outside the Richmond Working Men's Club, opposing an "erotic" revue named the "Top Cat Revue." The protest attracted between 100 to 150 participants, many of whom were vocal in expressing their antipornography sentiments. They were prevented from accessing the club's carpark and entrance by police presence, although there were some instances of scuffling between protesters and law enforcement. No arrests were made during the demonstration. Lesley James, a member of Women Against Pornography, expressed her satisfaction with the protest turnout, believing that their message had been effectively communicated. By 8:45 p.m., most protesters had departed from the scene. A club official, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment over both the protest and the extensive media coverage the revue had received. He defended the show, claiming it was comparable to various other performances hosted by the club and noted that the club had received numerous calls and letters regarding the revue—explicitly stating that the calls were filled with vulgarity while the letters contained pornographic content. Although the official did not disclose ticket sales numbers, he stated that the revue experienced strong patronage. Support for the protest came from various groups, including Men Against Sexism and a Lesbian and Gay Action Group. One protester articulated the concern that women were often confronted with narrow definitions of their worth, driven by their bodies and the societal expectation to attract male attention. She argued that entertainment like the revue reinforces these limiting images. Conversely, some club members defended the show, suggesting that attendees have the right to choose the entertainment they wish to engage with. One elderly member criticized the protest, indicating that those who disapproved of the performance did not need to attend it, and remarked that such forms of entertainment were commonplace, even at beaches. A younger member labelled the protesters as “idiotic,” asserting the adult nature of the entertainment and the members' autonomy in deciding what to watch. Overall, the event highlighted the tension between differing views on adult entertainment and its portrayal of women within society.

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