Tag: past events

Razzle Dazzle

A dazzling show to remember

Jules

Arriving at the Bloomsbury Theatre brought back a flood of memories for me as my last visit was nearly 20 years ago when I saw a soon to be famous Paul O’Grady there, as his venomous alter ego Lilly Savage.

Just as the throng of excited Pinkies grew, the heavens opened reminding us that the day of our ‘summer’ concert was finally upon us.

We were led down backstage and the buzz of excitement and anticipation was electric. Then there were Pinkies everywhere, running around like kids in a sweet shop, exploring our new domain where we ruled for the day. “How big are the dressing rooms, my mirror, the star on my door?!”

Backstage, where most people never see, was a labyrinth of corridors, twisting and turning up and around until you find the pass door into the wings and onto the illuminated runway of joy, as Lilly used to call it. I walked out onto the stage for the first time and looked out across the vast expanse of seats that would soon be filled with our paying public. My buttocks clenched and cursed at the thought of my nearest and dearest who would soon be sitting in the second row and wished that my attendance at rehearsals had been as committed as my attendance at the pub and the parties!

We started the rehearsal but this time was different — we all went out into the auditorium and explored there too. We stood, looking back at our stage and the exciting task before us. We sang to it and to each other and it became our space. Then the work started and suddenly we all realised what we had to do and what a show we’d created like no other we’d done before.

So many cues, moves, songs, soloists, canes, cabaret, conductors, curtain calls and encores (well almost). We had a master of ceremonies, a barbershop quartet, a piano AND an organ, temperamental stars, sugar plum fairies, a locomotive, Lady Gaga and our very own Dolly Levi. How will I get through it? We need more time!

Suddenly, there was no more time… it was time! The audience were there, the bars were full, the programmes sold and the bums were well and truly on the seats. Pink accessories on! We were in show state. Well, some of us (me) were just in a state! Warm up, cool down, nervous, excited, terrified. In the wings, in the dark, silence.

Then the Pinkies surrounded me and we were together again, as one, our choir, to perform as we love to do, and we filled the room with song and laughter and magic and love.

Jules

Timeline datestamp: 16 July 2011

London singing with Pride

Tanya
Tanya

28 years after forming to add some musical magic to Pride London the Pinkies took to the streets of of the city once more to celebrate on 2 July 2011. No matter how many times we march there is always a palpable air of excitement as we gather before the off. This time we arrived complete with thousands of flyers, hundreds of baloons and a huge canister of helium (thanks Cat and Jenny!), we blew up as many as we could and almost set Sarah aloft as we attached one too many to her wheelchair! Thankfully disaster was avoided by Pinkies tying as many baloons to themselves as possible.
This year we were marching between the London Gay Symphonic Winds (LGSW) and The Food Chain. We moved off to the sound of It’s Raining Men and of course we all sang along, in fact we sang along every time the LGSW played and did our best to fit in some of our own numbers when ever the band stopped, which never seemed for long enough. Note to selves: next year we must remember to request a slot next to a quieter group! Continue reading “London singing with Pride”

An advance Razzle Dazzle thank you!

Do you know who they are?
Do you know this couple?

With just two weeks to go till Razzle Dazzle, marching at Pride London was in many ways an extra special rehearsal. We were really impressed by the people we met on the march and how friendly everyone was. This particular couple caught our eye, and for being such good sports, we want to offer them complimentary tickets to come see our show. Do you know who they are? If so, please let them know and ask them to contact us on news@pinksingers.co.uk. We hope they are free on 16 July 2011!

Pride London celebrates its 40th

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-czxomPGFdM
This year’s Pride march was a special one for London town, because it was the city’s 40th. London’s first march, in 1972, was born of the Stonewall riots in 1969 in New York, when the LGBT community finally said enough is enough and demanded equality. Since then progress has been slow and, overcoming setbacks like Section 28, we are a lot nearer to our goal. Continue reading “Pride London celebrates its 40th”

A night at St. Mungo’s

This week saw a small group of Pinkies putting on a show for a very worthwhile charity event. We had been invited by the homelessness charity St Mungo’s to perform for both clients and staff at the launch of their 2011 Action Week. The focus of this special week is on enabling homeless people to rejoin society with an emphasis on accessing healthcare and advice on getting back into employment.

Not only was our performance going to be treat for the audience but it also gave us the chance to show off some of the numbers we will be performing at Razzle Dazzle on 16 July. The concert also included some excellent solos from Phillip, Chris, Sally-Ann and some Debussy on the piano from our very own Musical Director, Murray, along with a group number from the very talented Gin and Harmonics.

It was a wonderful evening and various numbers from Tchaikovsky to Tina Turner had the audience giggling with glee and tapping their feet in delight and I feel proud that the Pink Singers were involved in both entertaining and supporting such a great charity.

Tim

Timeline datestamp: 28 June 2011