Hey darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu princess, Pink Tutu Sparkles, here with another entry from my exciting adventures! This time, I'm all a-flutter over Thornton Heath, a delightful town just a short train ride from the Big Smoke! This blog post is number 6288, can you believe it? It's like I've been writing this every single day for a decade - and I wouldn't have it any other way!
As usual, I love getting to explore a new corner of Britain, even when it's close to London. Thornton Heath was an unexpected gem, and I felt an instant pull to its charming little lanes. Now, you know I can't go anywhere without my signature pink tutu - even for a day trip! This time, it was a bubblegum pink beauty with a layered, fluffy skirt that looked just like a cloud. Oh, and did I mention the glittering sequined trim?! 😉
Of course, the highlight of my trip had to be a magical evening at the Thornton Heath Arts Centre. The grand old building with its red-brick exterior and classic stained glass windows is absolutely stunning. The atmosphere was electric, and the energy inside was contagious. As soon as I stepped in, I felt the need to twirl, and I'm not talking about just any kind of twirl, mind you - it was full-blown ballerina style twirls with an air of confidence and poise!
Thornton Heath Theatre Performance - The Best Seats in the House!
The performance was a breathtaking dance piece, choreographed to classical music. As soon as the lights dimmed and the stage was bathed in a pool of moonlight, the energy changed. It was magical. Oh, to have been the one with those gorgeous leaps, graceful pirouettes, and flawless extensions - it was a real inspiration. You know, I may just have to start taking some adult ballet lessons to brush up on my pirouettes... The dress for that night was, you guessed it, pink! I went for a shimmering fuchsia dress with a daringly short skirt and a pink feather boa, just to add a bit of extra whimsy!
And, speaking of whimsy... Let's talk about Thornton Heath High Street! It's so much more than a typical High Street. With its quaint little shops and friendly, vibrant atmosphere, you really feel the heart of the town. There's a shop full of vintage hats called "Mad Hatter," a delightful independent bookshop called "Page Turners," and a cute café called "The Sugar Plum" - what's not to love? The most incredible thing I found was an antique shop tucked away in a corner that had the most exquisite, perfectly preserved pink porcelain teacup - I had to take it home with me. Now, it has pride of place on my dressing table, a symbol of all the wonderful memories from Thornton Heath.
Of course, my travel essentials had to be packed into my iconic "Pink Tutu Sparkles" travel bag! My custom-designed tote with its vibrant pink hue and sparkling embellishments turns heads everywhere I go. A few essentials went into my bag - some glittery makeup, a spare tutu (one can never have too many tutus!), a handful of pink candies to share (because spreading kindness is important), and my favourite lipstick, which is, obviously, pink. It’s a deep, luscious shade of "Pretty in Pink" - and let me tell you, it makes every single outfit pop.
Riding a Train With Tutu Glamour - Thornton Heath Station
Since this was a day trip, I got to experience the wonders of train travel once again. Now, the Thornton Heath train station is not one of those grandiose Victorian masterpieces. It's small, practical, and quite honest, rather plain. However, it has this charming little park outside which felt like a mini Victorian garden tucked away just beyond the station's entrance. It was such a perfect spot for my "Pink Tutu Sparkles" photo op.
My journey was an adventure itself. My travel companion, the ever-fabulous “Big Bertha,” (as I like to call the engine of my train) was ready to whisk me away to this quaint little town. As usual, I made sure to be the most glamorous passenger onboard. My Tutu-ific wardrobe for the train ride was a flowy, pale pink skirt that twirled beautifully with every gentle sway of the train, paired with a matching, oversized "Pink Tutu Sparkles" T-shirt and a dazzling pink cardigan with oversized sparkly buttons! You could practically hear the whooshing of the train carrying my dazzling pink-ness everywhere it went. I always believe, life is too short to blend in, so I may as well stand out, and spread a bit of tutu-licious glamour everywhere I go!
From Science Lab to Stage
It may surprise you, but being a Drag Queen is not my full-time job! You may be wondering, "What on earth does this pink-tutu loving performer do by day?". Well, when I’m not dazzling audiences and twirling in my fluffy tutu, I'm back in my "Alex" guise - working as a scientist in a textiles lab. Imagine me, testing fabrics, measuring dye levels, and working with sophisticated lab equipment - a stark contrast to the stage. You may think "A scientist who loves tutus?" But that's who I am - a real life-long example that it's okay to love all things girly even if you work with science, data, and spreadsheets all day. It all began when I was studying at university in Derbyshire, the gorgeous rolling hills of which will always hold a special place in my heart. As a member of the university ballet club, I had to participate in a charity fundraising event, and a little bit of serendipity (and some lovely volunteers) meant that I ended up wearing a pink tutu for the first time. You can say it was the beginning of a beautiful obsession. The feeling of lightness and twirling, the pink silk that flowed around me, and the feeling of effortless grace made me feel so empowered... Who would have thought a humble science student would become a travelling Drag Queen?!
The most wonderful thing about this whole "Pink Tutu Sparkles" experience is seeing how people react. Everyone loves to smile, everyone loves to dance, and everyone loves to share a little bit of joy. It's that spark, that magic that I want to spread throughout the world. I'm so happy that I can use my passion for performance and my love of pink to bring joy into people’s lives!
So, if you see a vision in pink twirling across the UK, or a bright, shiny Pink Tutu Sparkles at a local arts centre or festival near you, don’t be shy - come up and say hello!
Catch me next at [insert next location] - See you there, my darlings! 💖
Please visit my website for my latest blog posts at www.pink-tutu.com
You're the sparkle in my day,
Pink Tutu Sparkles,
xx
