Mardi Gras 2020 – The Story of Carnival

New Carnival Company (NCC) launched next year’s inspiring Mardi Gras theme, ‘The Story of Carnival’, at Ryde Academy Theatre on Thursday November 21. Many representatives from participating local schools and community groups attended the launch, where the Mayor of Ryde, Councillor Michael Lilley, talked about the benefits Mardi Gras brings to the local community. NCC then revealed the sections which will shape next year’s parade – Carnival History, Island Carnival and Global Carnival.

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 Islands 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. NCC encourages anyone who may have local carnival stories, photos or memorabilia to get in touch.

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 says, “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 Islands 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 peformance to the streets of Ryde on Saturday June 27 2020. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact NCC on 01983 716095 or email info@thenewcarnivalcompany.com.