A different type of festival

It’s hard to believe that this time last year we were gathering in front of the Chichester Cathedral, ready to launch the Festival of Chichester. Our wonderful mayor was in attendance and kicked off the proceedings under a gloomy looking sky, to a small gathering of onlookers all curious to see what was going on. I had asked my drag queen friend Clare Deloon along to sing a few power tunes to highlight my main event, a drag showcase for Chichester Cabaret Club. Yes there was a slight technical hitch but she turned it out and her incredibly supportive family all came along to cheer her on. It certainly raised some eyebrows which was exactly the intention. We had a band and a choir showcasing, and not even a few drops of rain against a scaffolded cathedral dampened our spirits. This year is of course an entirely different festival. Local author Kate Mosse officially ‘opened’ the festival on Saturday with a prerecorded announcement, and the ‘online’ participants were announced. I have decided to submit two very different events this year, and each one will be by way of a live stream – apparently the only ones of this nature during the festival. I thought I’d showcase what I’ve been up to during this time of isolation and lockdown. Firstly a vintage afternoon with my mum and secondly a ‘grown-ups only’ cabaret show featuring a cast from all around the world. by John Nicholson www.johnnicholsons.com