Darling! It's a beautiful spring day, and the sun is shining brightly upon Highbury, sending beams through the window of my lovely hotel room. My toes are tingling with anticipation, you see, because this afternoon, I'm off to see a show at The Almeida Theatre - one of my absolute favourite London theatres. The theatre itself is such a beautiful building, full of character and charm, and I just know this production will be divine! It's the perfect way to end a very exciting day filled with tutus and theatre-inspired adventures.
Before I tell you all about it, let's rewind back to the morning, when my day started with the delightful clickety-clack of a train journey into London. Now, I can’t resist a train journey; the smooth rhythm of the wheels, the gentle rocking, the window views whizzing past, all so calming and perfect for indulging in a good old-fashioned paperback – this morning, it was The Secret Garden.
Reaching London's King's Cross Station is always exciting! It's the heart of theatre land, just a hop, skip and a jump from the theatre district. So, after checking into my beautiful hotel room (which of course had to be pink – more about that later), I changed into my lovely yellow tutu and headed straight to a class at the Royal Academy of Dance in Bloomsbury. It felt fantastic to move again in a proper studio - stretching out those muscles after my train journey, getting into character ready to experience the best that the London theatre scene has to offer.
The class was packed with keen, talented dancers and a very inspiring teacher. I was really challenged but had an absolute ball. I find ballet classes are so good for grounding me, helping me feel strong and elegant, and ready to take on the world.
Back in the hotel, the afternoon sunshine beckoned me out to wander through the cobbled streets of Highbury - a pretty, historic district north of London. There are cobbled streets, charming cafes, and independent shops selling every imaginable curiosity – it's a delightful way to spend an afternoon. I spotted a fabulous pink feather boa, and felt the need for some proper English afternoon tea, so of course, I couldn’t resist picking up some delectable treats to munch on during the show! I love Highbury.
After my stroll, it was back to the hotel to prep for the performance. The Almeida is a renowned venue for contemporary theatre - I know I'm in for a real treat. There's an air of excitement and buzz when you arrive, as people spill out from the elegant red-brick building to talk about the show. The anticipation is infectious.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the beautiful pink lighting that cast the foyer in a soft glow, a beautiful reflection of my mood. Pink – my absolute favourite colour - has a way of making me feel calm and happy and it truly inspires me! The evening at the theatre didn't disappoint. The show was utterly spellbinding. It explored the raw beauty and strength of human nature through dance, captivating from the moment the curtain rose.
It felt exhilarating to be in the heart of a performance so charged with energy and creativity, experiencing the joy of theatre first hand. As the actors and dancers interacted with the audience, I felt a real sense of connection - the joy, the vulnerability, it felt truly inspiring and reflected back some of my own love for the art.
The show’s themes about resilience and perseverance really resonated with me. It's funny - even at the theatre, a lot of what I love about ballet is how the story of human struggles and triumphs can be expressed in dance, using the strength of the human body to move and connect us. The story felt so familiar to me and really tapped into something deep within my Derbyshire spirit!
Afterwards, there’s no better way to round off the night than with a glass of something sparkling at a fabulous Highbury bar. There's a relaxed atmosphere here, a kind of "off duty” feeling to the city where you can enjoy your night away from the big, bustling crowd at the end of a performance, and just lose yourself in the music and the energy of the night.
Tomorrow morning, it’s off to the City to indulge in some fabulous window shopping. That’s the best kind of shopping – admiring the pretty clothes, imagining how amazing I would look wearing them, and picking out a little treasure to remind myself of this wonderful day. And of course, no day is complete without a little whimsy.
This day, though - it's already a treasure in itself. Highbury High Jinks, in my bright yellow tutu, dancing, dreaming and discovering. And it reminded me again why I want everyone to feel this way about ballet – to have the confidence and self-assurance to embrace the freedom of self expression. Because truly, darling, the world needs more pink tutues.
So go on, join me on www.pink-tutu.com and let's all share the joy of dance. You can find me on Instagram at @pink_tutu.
See you all tomorrow for another pink-filled day!
