Duncan Lustig-Prean Interviewed by Nigel Wrench, Lantern Theatre May 9 2026. Nigel Wrench introduced Duncan Lustig-Prean, Chair of the Brighton Fringe. And to many people’s regret, outgoing Chair too. Now in his fourth year he’s stepping aside he says, before people might want to see the back of him! It’s fair to say he’s energised and enhanced the quality of Brighton Fringe, its image, comms and indeed its flourishing.Wrench went straight in about Lustig-Prean’s career in the Royal Navy, Lustig-Prean knowing from very early on that he was gay. He was clear that he himself didn’t think that there should be sexual relationships of any kind in the forces, (apart from marriage).
And it’s clearer too that there’s been abuse of women. Lustig-Prean himself was clear he never had any sexual relationship with a serving member of the forces. But his mistake was in thinking that as long as you engaged in no sexual acts, being gay was all right if you were celibate on duty and only engaged with someone outside the services altogether. So Lustig-Prean began by making a distinction. Straight People Only is a subtext the military services kept up till 2000. Indeed he was touted to be an admiral, indeed First Sea Lord.Growing up on the Isle of Wight 250 yards from the sea, Lustig Preen was employed by the isle’s last longshoreman till the end of his college days. He soon absorbed an intense and lifelong love of the sea. Its sound and birds caught the young Duncan. Unpredictable and wild: smoot and glowing, then a sudden squall or storm, both equally wonderful.
First a singing career attracted him. Study followed at the Royal College of Music then Birmingham Conservatoire. Though resembling Pavarotti in looks he sadly didn’t possess his voice! Though semi-professional and a conductor he was never destined for the Royal Opera House or La Scala. So the Royal Navy beckoned. A little background here. Lustig-Prean’s parents are Austrian, his father an aristocrat. Lustig-Prean’s mother was moved in 1936 from a Catholic to a Jewish school.
It was a sign, and the family heeded it early. Being Jewish she and her father escaped Austria. Had it not been for the UK they would have been murdered: like 42 members of her family. Lustig-Prean was partly foreign and so then was inducted to the Royal Naval Reserve. The first woman commander in the RN took up his cause.One Barbara, quite ferocious in her responses for papers on his family: “I’m sorry the Nazis weren’t very good at keeping documents of those they murdered” and he was in. He rapidly moved from seaman to officer. Lustig-Prean’s first work was on equality, particularly diversity. Given the Birmingham demographic Lustig-Prean was struck by the recruitment. It was geared for grammar school boys: white and middle class. He moved to recruit quite differently.
When he started – and this was Birmingham area, then as now hugely diverse – there was just one Brown rating. Within three years they had 12. Which despite seeming small is a result.After this Lustig-Prean was inducted into the RN proper. At 24-25 he had a reputation for being far more challenging than the normal inducted officer. Luckily, surprisingly they passed him. Then after training he was posted to his first ship: HMS Ambuscade. The name is descended from a French Napoleonic ship captured by the brtish: and not renamed (always adeemed bad luck).A beautiful looking ship too, and Lustig-Prean was working directly for the captain. Was also finding himself on an 8 hours watch, coordinating fire-watch and looking after Sonar ratings. And so he secured his first Commendation after six weeks But the first intimations of Lustig-Prean ‘s sexuality emerge. “You don’t have sex in a metal monastery” as he states it: which sentiment Lustig-Prean agrees with. No sex in the workplace.One morning though he opened up a report from the Special Investigations of a 17 year old for three days. Every detail.
All the rating had done was exit a gay pub. So “being gay” is enough. That was enough to thrust Lustig-Prean into the closet.Another Commendation followed. During an exercise Lustig-Prean was declared the lead in a logistics department of 35 people. Having been already declared as below standard he then brought it to “good” which was unprecedented. Normally “Satisfactory’ was the highest you could hope for, especially if like Lustig-Prean you were a replacement officer. A third on HMS Bulldog followed after more training. As Duty Commanding Officer he minimized a fire.Now Lustig-Prean found himself on the staff of the Admiralty where he was involved in scheduling Royal visits. Not something he relished, buy the pay was better and it would lead to greater things.
The three Ps paint polish and practice. And where Lustig-Prean had to play the part of royalty in endless practice runs, driven about in a large limousine. The royal member met him art the rea thing and commented: “Oh yes. You’re the one who takes the piss out of me” said Andrew formerly known as Prince. Showbiz hasn’t entirely vanished as Lustig-Prean is involved in naval revues as it were. As a boring handsome prince and far more intersting pantomime dame.On the Admiral’s staff he encountered two bosses. Sir John Webster, a seascape artist and wonderful man to work for. Afterwards Sir Alan Gross who was as his name implies. A nightmare to work for with, blood on the carpet: he summarily sacked people and Lustig-Prean found himself as personnel liaison, uneasily put on the spot.
On one of those occasions I was brought in and used the usual synonyms for useless. “He’s experienced sir.” That means he’s past it. “What do you really think?” “He’s loyal and dependable.” That means he’s actually useless. “No. What do you really think.” Eventually Lustig-Prean is forced to declare. “Sir he could wank for England but couldn’t co-ordinate.” That worked.After that Lustig-Prean could no wrong. LGBT persecution was at its height. Sadistic torture isn’t too strong a term to describe the torture. Including medical procedures, fi you can call them that: penetration to deduce if orifices were large enough to have committed a sexual act.Dr Marietta Higgs would suggest that anyone with an open passage was automatically gay. Good luck if you have a prostate problem. Finally an enquiry was launched in 2022-23 to investigate the abuse of gay veterans.
An example of a woman entitled after three days held down by four men a doctor penetrated her with doors open and others laughing. Women had a particularly vicious time. Double whammy lesbians called it, and “rape you straight”. It was not unheard of in men but infinitely more prevalent in women.And this persecution was costing a lot of money. When working for Rank Outsiders eh discovered this story. Four gay Tornado pilots living together were investigated then dismissed. 50 million pounds in men who’d done nothing.Having to present the papers of such accused personnel was a nightmare. Occasionally Lustig-Prean was able to swing it – about four people were saved that way. Lustig-Prean was now in HMS Newcastle patrolling the Falklands, and very icy waters: he enjoyed a good job and this stint was coming to an end. He was being tipped as naval attaché to the PM. More than that: it was going to happen as John Major had asked for him.
A vital job, infinitely preferable to ferrying around members of the royal family. And a promotion, working with Chief of Defence. Which would have led to other things. Like First Sea Lord, something always mentioned by those near him. It was 1994. He was 35.So returning to the ship for his farewell party Lustig-Prean was asked to ring his mother. He was asked to ring but not from the ship. He knew immediately what this meant. He immediately took evasion tactics, having worked in Northern Ireland. He had to drive and meet this man at Waterloo 0.30 so arrived early to scope the man out as he arrived promptly at 0.30. He was being blackmailed.Lustig-Prean had a boyfriend. He’d never signed or written a letter to “Phil” but always “Phyllis” for instance.
There were no letters that could be traced back to him in that way. He also had to deceive people who would take a bullet for you and you for them. It’s painful to have to lie to people.So Lustig-Prean had rehearsed this ever since that first day on HSM Ambuscade, reading about the 17-year-old rating. So told the blackmailer to f off. He’d tell the military police himself. He then declared to a man who was his subordinate. The man Richard was very friendly. He had been begged not to by others. AS he entered Ricahrd offered him coffee and chocolate biscuits. The atmosphere changes. The coffee and biscuits are cleared away. He’s frog matched to interrogation. “Was it David Varney known as Paul Varney? He’s useful to us.” Lustig-Prean had to tell his family who were Austrian aristocrats and all officers: indeed he was the most junior officer in his family. So first Lustig-Prean had to tell his mother after five months gardening leave. “You’re good at your job so I thought it must be that.” Of his father she noted: “There are times to tell him, but not when he’s watching Match of the Day or other sporting activities.”
But his Austrian father says “Was it misconduct? Then you must sue them.” So that’s what he did. Then going to Pride 1994, Lustig-Prean was meeting Sir Ian McKellen who prepared him for the gruelling ahead. Just at this point Lustig-Prean had to rescue a young rating who had been tortured and was about to jump off a bridge. His fundamentalist Christian family had been told – a particularly sadistic and deliberate act: who disowned him. He had lost everything. Lustig-Prean talked him down.Talking him down and getting him a job and support led to a happy married life. So at the point Lustig-Prean became engage in attacking the homophobic laws. So it was clear from the outset this campaign would have to be taken to the European Court: UK courts would strike it down. Those upcoming appeals also meant enduring a huge amount of advice.
There was also the danger that a partial concession might be won. In some countries ratings but not officers might be gay. Or only men, since women were treated even more sadistically, with sexually penetrative torture far more prevalent. This was clearly unacceptable.
So four former officers and women were involved to lead the campaign, including Lustig-Prean. The UK was no good: you had to go to the European Court. He was whisked away to TV studios, not dripping in champagne as some said, even though there was a lot of it around, celebrating the fight.The case was heard and won in 1999. The last picture is of the four principals reunited against the sculpture commemorating gay service people. They’d all kept in touch but not been physically reunited since that day. The king bowed his head in acknowledgment and support having specifically asked to dedicate the sculpture. The nearest to an apology a king can make.
But Lustig-Prean went back to sea with the Merchant Marine and became a Commodore. The highest rank. Being gay had been illegal there too. All his Merchant Navy crew turned out to be gay.Lustig-Prean had brought out his favourite hat. A Commodore’s hat. At a 2015 event all his naval comrades came to apologize. All were Admirals and one said “I’ve got the job which should be yours.” The RN ships have Pride days. And sexual discipline and boundaries are kept not by officers, but by all.There were a few Questions. The first was: Why did you join up knowing the law? Lustig-Prean: “I only knew conduct was illegal. My assumption was being gay was fine. But not to act.”Erin Burbridge, who’s tech at the Lantern asked: “How is the job running Brighton Fringe?” Lustig-Prean having trained pilots for EasyJet, found with Covid that early retirement beckoned. So he was approached.
The Brighton Fringe is wonderful thing to be involved with. Worldwide orgasm of culture: and 35% are from BrightonHe was asked about his peers in the RN. Alan Massey became Second Sea Lord. He had been sent a private letter about Lustig-Prean. In it he was told Lustig-Prean was infecting his ship with HIV and AIDS; but had killed the letter “I put it in a safe.” And he tried defending Lustig-Prean. Lustig-Prean said to him: “Don’t ruin your career – I’m finished and you can become Second Sea Lord. We all think so.” And he did. Lustig-Prean was asked about the level of compensation. Compensation varies, and there were a variety of offers and people asked to sign over. Some of that has been overturned and a calibration of small amounts has been worked out. For those tortured – and for instance forced to eat poo – £20,000; and otherwise £5000. None of this makes you feel better. It’ll always be with you. But you can put to bed the past to a degree.Lustig-Prean is warmly thanked and asked if he’s still singing? Yes. In Church Street. Occasionally.
He’s Brighton Fringe show at the Lantern Theatre is now over but you can view all the details here and look out for him in conversation somewhere in the future.
