UPDATE: The event has been postponed until July 31, due to COVID-19 restrictions

More details for a Shakespearian-inspired drag performance in Macclesfield have been revealed.

On the evening of June 26, Barnaby Bright will present a one-of-a-kind drag cabaret A Midsummer Night's Queen.

A Midsummer Night's Queen is a drag cabaret show inspired by William

Shakespeare's 16th century play A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Taking place at Mash Guru, the event will provide a safe space for everyone to come together and celebrate the art of drag queens.

Whether you want to participate or simply watch - this will be the ultimate Macclesfield drag queen again of the year.

There will be a well-lit dressing room area upstairs at Mash Guru with rails of clothes, wigs, jewellery and shoes in the frocks and locks area.

The aim is to invite Macclesfield guests who are new to drag to dress up and gain expert advice from the more experienced queens.

Your host for the evening will be accomplished drag queen Nana Nancy (pictured), who will compere the evening with her humour as the queens sashay down the catwalk lip-synching, dancing or singing encouraged to show their talents.

Nana Nancy says: "We're going to have so much fun. We're going with a soul train style beauty pageant. I can't wait to get back on stage and am already planning my outfit.

"We want to celebrate the town's queer presence and we are welcoming everyone. It will be a great night out and I'm so pleased to be celebrating drag culture in my hometown for Barnaby."

The event on Saturday June 26 will start at 8pm. Those who are taking part in the show are invited to come and get ready from 7pm.

There will be a Puck shop - taking its name from the mischievous and comedic fairy in

Shakespeare's play. The mini pop-up will house trinkets and treasures to buy.

The drag queens will be judged by a panel including; Carol Ann Whitehead, Barnaby Bright programme director; Lady Sharon.

Farley-Mason founder of Bespoke by Lady Sharon who will be donating

the winner's crown; Ilona Kasanova a Macclesfield restaurateur and drag queen and Mark Dyson a Trustee from Macclesfield Pride.

Carol Ann Whitehead, Barnaby Bright programme director, says: "At Barnaby we want to celebrate diversity and promote equality and inclusion. We want people to feel safe and welcome and to participate.

"You can come in drag and watch or you can come in your everyday wear and experience drag for the first time."

Carol is also an Event Production lecturer at Manchester's Access Creative College, and some of her students will be interns for the event.

She added: "It's a fantastic work experience for the students. Mash Guru is a friendly place for people to be themselves whoever they are.

"Anyone who wants to be a drag queen can participate in the show."

Scott Thornton from Macclesfield's Market Place record shop Basement Traxx will be sound tracking the evening. He'll spin iconic gay anthems to get everyone in the mood.

The judges' marking criteria will take a leaf out of Ru Paul's rulebook and they'll be looking for charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent.

The winner will be crowned a midsummer's night queen with a bespoke tiara donated and made by Bespoke by Lady Sharon.

Tickets are priced £10 and are available from hereBarnaby Festival website.

Mash Guru is located on 5 Back Wall Gate in Macclesfield.

In the lead up to the event if you want to donate clothes, shoes or jewellery please contact Mash Guru via Facebook or at [email protected].

Upstairs will be a 'Locks and Frocks' peer support parlour where experienced drag queens can share their nuggets of wisdom with individuals new to the scene.

The event is also supported by Bespoke by Macc Pride, Lady Sharon Farley Mason and The Zebra Partnership.

Tickets for participants and audience are £10 in advance, and can be booked here.

There is no end time for the event which starts at 8pm on June 26, so the fabulous Macclesfield micro-party may very well go on through the night!

Barnaby Bright is a collection of midsummer events that will take place

this June around the summer solstice in the historic spaces of

Macclesfield town centre.

Barnaby Bright brought to you by the team at Barnaby Festival. All events will be delivered with measures in place to comply with COVID-19

restrictions.

Social distancing will be monitored carefully.

For full programme information please head to this article.

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