THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Marion McMullen looks at how lockdown is going live
1 THE world famous Chelsea Flower Show has gone virtual for the first time in its history after the normal event was cancelled due to the lockdown. It has been hosting tours of private gardens, behindthe-scenes specials, talks and a garden club on its website rhs.org. uk/Chelsea. The royal family shared their favourite flowers to mark the start of the virtual event with Queen Elizabeth, pictured, revealing lily of the valley as one of her most-loved blooms. The flowers featured in her coronation bouquet and have held special memories for her ever since.
2 SAM SMITH, Biffy Clyro, Anne-Marie, Rita Ora, below, and Young T & Bugsey are among acts performing remotely over the weekend for a virtual version of the Radio 1’s Big Weekend music festival. The BBC is featuring more than 50 new live sets recorded by artists from their own homes. The festival runs until Sunday and will be broadcast on BBC
Radio 1, with full sets available on
BBC Sounds.
3 TWO virtual exhibitions are marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. The exhibitions at Derby Museums (derby museums.org) and the University of Nottingham (nottingham.ac.uk) have been moved online with the latter including a virtual Crimean War scrapbook compiled by Florence’s sister Frances Parthenope.
4 THE Edinburgh Festival is another lockdown casualty but the Fringe Festival at edfringe.com is still marking the summer event by inviting people to share their memories of better days as part of Fringe In The Attic. They are asking performers to share flyers and costumes that they wore and say there will be bonus points for retro haircuts that make it on to their screens. Many performers are also letting people enjoy entertainment in their living rooms by taking their planned Edinburgh shows online.
5 UNIVERSITIES around the world are planning to hold virtual graduation ceremonies for students this summer. Queen’s University Belfast emailed students earlier this month to say it would be holding virtual ceremonies with plans for a celebratory event in the future when it is safer.
6 THE Hay literature festival runs until the end of May and includes a digital programme of events featuring guests including Benedict Cumberbatch, below, Hilary Mantel, Helena Bonham Carter and Stephen Fry. Actors Jonathan Pryce, Helen McCrory and Vanessa Redgrave are taking part in discussions and other speakers at the digital festival include author Margaret Atwood, historian Simon Schama and broadcasters Sandi Toksvig and Monty Don. Go to hayfestival.com/ home for details.
7 THE three-day Download rock festival (download festival.co.uk) is being turned into a virtual festival with music, previously unseen performances, exclusive footage, interactive specials and interviews. Download Festival TV will stream from June 12 on the festival’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.
8
ACTORS Gary Sinise, below, and Joe Mantegna are hosting a virtual version of America’s National Memory Day
Concert on
Sunday. The event features performances and tributes to the military and frontline heroes of the pandemic and among those taking part will be General Colin Powell, Laurence Fishburne and Sam Elliott. The virtual event will stream on Facebook, YouTube and on America’s PBS channel.
9
WALES is holding the first virtual Eisteddfod T and inviting people to turn their sofa into front row seats. The five-day event starts on Monday and competitions include the best cake decoration, family talents and singing and instrumental performances. There are also categories for talented pets and the best living room dance. Details available from s4c.urdd.cymru/en/
10
KEEN gardeners throughout the country are offering virtual tours this year as part of the National Garden Scheme. It is the first time in 90 years the scheme has not been able to allow people to take a stroll through some of the best private gardens in England and Wales, but the gardens can still be enjoyed virtually on ngs.org.uk.