The Shepherd's Tale

I’m in Manchester Cathedral in early December.

I’ve a feeling I’ve just performed the story I’m about to share.

It’s my version of the Shepherds’ Story, which I actually wrote a few years ago and forgot about, until I found myself working with the brilliant and beautiful composer Rylan Gleave

Rylan Gleave

and the lovely Sunday Boys

The Sunday Boys

Who are a low voice LGBT+ choir based in Manchester who every year do a programme of songs and readings called “A Very Queer Christmas” which this year happened in Manchester Cathedral.

They commissioned Rylan to compose a Christmas song for them, and he chose to set words from “The Gospel According To Jesus Queen Of Heaven” and the choir asked me to choose and perform the readings.

And it was on the train home from our first meeting that I remember my story of the Shepherds, which I thought might work.

And it did…

I loved working with the Sunday Boys - you can tell from the picture - and I loved working in Manchester Cathedral. Here’s my dressing room, with a throne and everything

And I loved working with Rylan….

I loved performing there too.

There were about 600 people in the audience, and about 100 people in the choirs…. 700 queer people in a cathedral is a force to be reckoned with.

And we need all our force and all our courage and all our strength to confront this year that has just begun….

(By the way, The Sunday Boys have just been nominated for a Royal Philarmonic Society Inspiration Award. Click on the link to their website to see how to vote. I hope it’s not too late… They should award every award. They do such a power of good in the world.)

If you haven’t already, I hope you’re able to upgrade your subscription to read this story. It’s cheap at the price….