By Isle of Wight Observer
The New Carnival Company (NCC) has revealed details of next year’s Mardi Gras at a launch event in Ryde Academy Theatre. ‘The Story of Carnival’ will include three themes which will shape next year’s parade – Carnival History, Island Carnival and Global Carnival.
The launch event was attended by Ryde mayor, Councillor Michael Lilley and representatives from local schools and community groups.
Carnival History will focus on how carnival has developed from its roots as a pagan festival in Ancient Egypt, and include Roman Bacchanal celebrations and Trinidad’s Canboulay.
The middle section, Island Carnival, is supported by a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.
NCC will be working with Carisbrooke Castle Museum and InspirED to engage young people to learn about the Island’s carnival traditions. The aim is to discover and record new stories through reminiscence and oral history activities, then present a selection at 2020’s Mardi Gras parade.
The final section, Global Carnival will span a variety of contemporary carnivals from London’s Notting Hill to Québec’s winter carnival.
Frankie Goldspink, creative director at NCC said: “There are plenty of exciting subjects and angles for schools to tie into their curriculum, and we hope to invite visiting artists from some of the contemporary global carnivals to really engage the groups. The Island Carnival section is very special, because it will help to document and save our Island’s important and rich carnival heritage for generations to come. We’re so excited to present this carnival of carnivals in 2020.”
The Story of Carnival will bring colour, music, dance and performance to the streets of Ryde on Saturday June 2. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact NCC on (01983) 716095 or email info@thenewcarnivalcompany.com.
