Hello my gorgeous darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-loving, sparkly queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, reporting live from... Chorley!
That's right, your girl's ventured into the North West for a weekend of sequins, shimmering, and, of course, a touch of tutus! I know, I know, it's a bit of a trek from my Derbyshire digs, but when a drag queen gets the call to perform, well, there's only one thing to do - hop on a train (preferably in my new pink and silver-sequined handbag, naturally) and sashay over!
This trip feels especially special, like a delightful sprinkle of fairy dust. You see, I've got a soft spot for Chorley - my dear Nan spent a lot of her life there, so it feels a bit like I'm taking a trip down memory lane with a dash of pink glitter, ha!
Now, before I tell you all about the amazing time I had in Chorley, let's chat about how I got here, shall we? A few weeks back, a lovely gentleman contacted me on social media, a total darling by the name of Bernard. He runs a fantastic community hall in the heart of Chorley - The Jolly Sprinkler, he called it, bless his soul - and wanted me to be the guest star of his "Glamorous Glamour" night! You see, my darlings, when someone asks you to grace their stage with your sparkling presence, what can a girl say? Well, except for maybe a dramatic "Oh darling, YES!" with a big ol' theatrical flourish, naturally.
Speaking of theatre, you simply wouldn't believe what happened on my train journey! The lady sitting opposite me, a total sweetheart, told me all about the stunning Chorley Theatre and their upcoming production of Swan Lake. You've heard me rave about ballet before, right? Well, let me tell you, a girl could not contain her excitement! It's not every day you get to visit a place where grace and tutus are celebrated! It felt like fate was sending me a little pink sparkle to add to the magic of my weekend.
The first thing that hit me about Chorley was its charm - the quaint cobblestone streets, the cozy cafes with their window displays, it was like stepping back in time with a touch of modern magic. I couldn't wait to hit the high street! First things first, a trip to "Pink Feathers," the most delightful vintage shop filled with all sorts of retro treasures, you wouldn't believe the sequined treasures I found in there!
Now, I may love my tutus and my sequins, but my darlings, you know that my heart beats for a good outfit! What can I say, shopping for drag is an art form, isn't it? You have to curate your look, build a narrative, make a statement! My shopping trip took me all over Chorley - to "The Funky Fashionist," a chic little boutique that's all about individuality and confidence. You can bet I came away with a few new gems for my wardrobe! It was in this little haven that I also discovered a whole line of pink glitter makeup. You know me, couldn't leave without it!
After all that shopping, my darling, I was ready for a little afternoon tea! A proper traditional one, you see. And boy, did Chorley deliver! We found this charming tea room tucked away in a little alley called "The Lavender Kettle." Imagine my surprise when the staff was decked out in pink and a lovely waitress with the cutest polka dot dress was actually wearing a tutu underneath! This delightful experience simply affirmed what I already know - pink tutus are magic! It just brought a touch of enchantment to a perfect afternoon.
Of course, no visit to a new town would be complete without experiencing a bit of local culture. Now, Chorley, it turns out, has this lovely community hall dedicated to everything artistic - they have pottery classes, ballet lessons, and even a local choir! Honestly, my dear, it felt like a perfect little haven for the creatively inclined! My heart skipped a beat when I found a class for adult ballet beginners - I just HAD to take a lesson! Imagine this, darling, a whole room of adults, getting their pliés and pirouettes on. Honestly, it was pure joy!
And now, for the main event, my darling! You wouldn't believe the energy in The Jolly Sprinkler the night I performed! A huge stage, dazzling lights, and the most wonderful audience! This place, I mean, it was bursting with life! A lovely man called Gary was in the front row with a poster saying "Go Pink Tutu Sparkles!" The support I received was just absolutely wonderful. The highlight of my performance was this one moment - the whole room erupts in cheers as I bust out my signature "pink tutu dance" with my new vintage pink and silver dress! Honestly, the crowd was eating it up, singing along, and even one guy jumped onto the stage to join me, dressed in his pink tutu (and what a fabulously dramatic twirl he had, let me tell you!), we practically broke the stage, ha!
Before I left, Bernard insisted I had another cup of tea (and of course, I obliged - tea is like the fuel that powers the glitter in a drag queen’s life!) and asked me to write him a poem, ha! He was so taken with my "sparkly wit" and my dedication to all things pink! I really had the most incredible time, the love and support of the community was amazing! This was definitely a highlight of my journey, a journey fuelled by my pink tutu and fuelled by the desire to bring a little sparkle and a little joy wherever I go!
As I write this, my darling, I'm on the train heading back home, feeling a little tired but totally filled with glitter, with my heart bursting with gratitude for this delightful little escapade to Chorley. One thing's for sure - it definitely felt like magic! It was filled with fun, fabulousness, and even a touch of pink tutu wonder, a little bit like the most beautiful dreams!
So, what do you say, darlings? Let's take this world by storm one sparkly pink tutu at a time! Because you know what they say, you can never have too much glitter, right? 😉
Until next time, my darlings, keep shining! Don't forget, to get your own pink tutu and let's keep this sparkly magic alive!
Love and sparkle,
Pink Tutu Sparkles. (And for all of you science nerds out there - it's Alex in my day job, testing those fancy new fabrics. 😉)
