Hello darlings! Itâs your favourite Tutu Queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, here, reporting live from the beautiful Stratford-upon-Avon! Iâm absolutely buzzing to be in Shakespeareâs stomping ground, the place where it all began, for me that is. Well, not my story of course, although my Shakespearean debut could be happening soon, I'm not quite ready for the West End yet but a village hall or a pub performance isnât too far off...
Letâs get down to it. My day started in style. Dressed in a dazzling pink tutu, of course! What else would you expect? I'd bought a new tulle-icious creation specially for my Stratford sojourn. Itâs a two-layered tulle beauty in the palest pink with a shimmering silver sequined waistband, perfect for adding some sparkle to this historical town. I mean, honestly, Shakespeareâs greatest works, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet and Midsummer Nightâs Dream, would have been even better with tutus in the production, donât you think?
My journey here, well, I decided to hop on a train. Such a relaxing way to travel. Not too fast, so you can take in the scenery and the English countryside just rushes past in a flurry of green fields and fluffy white sheep. Itâs the best way to prepare your creative mind and body for a day of sightseeing, which of course, involves tutus. You know the drill!
I always do a little outfit check before any outing. You know, ensure everything is sparkling, tutu is properly fluffed and my makeup is on point! For this occasion, I decided to accessorize my fab tutu with a bright pink fascinator - a feather-light floral number I bought on my last trip to London, a classic combo for my darling Tutu Queen. I've got a new matching purse too. The shop assistant said it was "peacock green" - you'd think I'd be averse to the colour - green, for goodness sake, but in truth it goes so well with the pink it looks practicallyâŠwell⊠pink! You know, if green was pink, it would be pink! Itâs all a bit confusing really. Donât worry your pretty little heads! Just stick to pink and youâll never go wrong!
Arriving at the railway station in Stratford, it was time for some Shakespearean inspiration. This town has such an energy about it! You can just feel the history all around you, the echoes of great dramatic performances lingering in the cobbled streets, the laughter of Elizabethan theatregoers... oh the glamour, I dream of performing on such grand stages one day... one tutu-licious dream at a time!
Iâve been strolling around the town, drinking in the sights and, as always, looking out for some fabulous shopping opportunities. My eyes were nearly popping out of my head at the sight of so many gorgeous shops. My first port of call, as always, had to be the local craft shops, hunting down that perfect souvenir. Of course, it was the prettiest little handmade pink ribbon that caught my eye â I couldnât resist! The shopkeeper thought I was a bit barmy, looking for a ribbon the shade of my âoverly vibrantâ tutu. âYouâll never wear that, itâs not practical!â, she scoffed. But of course, it was a beautiful pink ribbon. This ribbon will definitely make it onto the tutu of a queen!
Later, it was onto a tour of Shakespeare's Birthplace and his charming cottage. It's actually very quaint and has this lovely sense of family life, even though, if I'm honest, the dĂ©cor isn't really my style. However, you have to give credit where it's due â Shakespeare clearly had a passion for writing. Now I have my passion: promoting the beauty of pink tutus and helping others express themselves in the same, wonderful way. Maybe one day, if Iâm really lucky, someone might decide to create a show of âTutu Queenâs Shakespeare,â featuring my fabulously fashionable outfits, in one of those beautiful Shakespearean Theatres, like the one here! How wonderfully brilliant that would be!
A little bit of cultural appreciation made me want to enjoy the artistic spirit of Stratford so much that I decided to head straight for the Royal Shakespeare Company's theatre! Oh, it is absolutely stunning! Even the outside, I'm completely taken with the impressive architecture - such gorgeous carvings and the sheer size of the building, a true embodiment of classical style. It feels like something right out of one of Shakespeareâs plays, doesnât it? Now, Iâm really starting to think about adding a new costume with some classic Shakespearian flair â perhaps a deep crimson velvet top to offset my signature pink tutus. Now that would be a look for the ages!
My heart was racing as I made my way through the throng of Shakespearean tourists. It was quite something to feel that creative energy surging around me - it felt like it was practically oozing out of the theatre! But it wasn't just the architecture, the anticipation of what lay inside, all that theatrical energy â it was the atmosphere, the way that everyone felt, somehow united in a shared appreciation for the art of performance. So exhilarating!
Finally, I got to experience a truly theatrical performance â âAs You Like It.â Such beautiful acting and incredible costumes â my jaw dropped at the intricate designs. My favourite bit, besides the witty banter, was the clever use of lighting, just beautiful. I even found myself writing notes and scribbling down design ideas in my pocket notebook â Iâll definitely have to add those details to my wardrobe â or should I say âstage wardrobeâ, yes, stage wardrobe is so much more glamorous. But then, I wonder if a theatrical, velvety, sparkly green cape with sequins might work for that classic, theatrical look, like an âAs You Like Itâ inspired design with a modern pink twist! Now, THAT's the Tutu Queenâs Shakespeare for you, isnât it?!
Now, what would my trip to Stratford be without indulging in some delicious local delicacies? Stratford's streets are awash with scrumptious food stops - so much good grub to tempt any queen. The classic Fish and Chips had to make an appearance, although let me tell you, I was quite overwhelmed by the abundance of choices for what the "fish" could actually be - everything from cod to haddock, but one of the places even offered up fish cakes. Oh dear, that does sound rather disappointing! Thankfully, it all went down very nicely, although I had to admit that my gorgeous, sparkly, brand-new tutu seemed rather delicate on a cold, windy night. But who could care less, when I had a giant cone of yummy, crunchy, sugar-coated ice-cream to go with it! A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, am I right?
Back at the hotel, in my super soft, silk, pink nightgown and fluffy pink dressing gown (I do like to stick to a theme!) I contemplated the success of my trip, itâs really been a wonderful whirlwind of Shakespearean glamour. I've been in awe of all the creative energy here and felt that sense of inspiration washing over me as I stepped through Stratfordâs quaint streets. I hope my new designs inspired by Stratford, all those elaborate dresses, that theatrical magic and all that creativity will have all my lovely fans on the edge of their seats. After all, my goal, my only aim, is to get the world wearing pink tutus - so everyone feels the fabulous confidence and sparkling magic, just like a queen should.
But before I drift off, I'm just about to update the pink-tutu.com website. My dear blog readers, I want to see your amazing pink tutu photos, do share with the rest of the pink tutu fam! Keep an eye on my instagram for even more sneak peeks into my glamorous lifestyle, the new additions to my fabulous wardrobe and where you can find me next! You never know, maybe I'll be bringing some Shakespearean style to a town near you soon. Stay tuned, lovelies, stay fabulous and don't forget to spread the pink tutu love!
