To celebrate its 900th anniversary, Leeds Castle commissioned the Carnival of History with artists, performers, community groups and musicians coming together from across Kent and beyond, to recreate 9 centuries of history on the weekend of 27/28 July 2019.
We were involved from early concept stages to celebrate 900 years of the existence of Leeds Castle in Kent. Working on each century, and in relation to our production of Carnival Queens as our ‘stock in trade’ it was suggested that 9 Queens would symbolically create a chronological parade blueprint. Shelving that plan, we decided upon heraldic imagery and related plant forms with reference to specific events during each century, and engaged the students of the Rochester based University of Creative Arts to add further research as integrated part of their year 2 study. From the original 15, a resultant residency of 8 placement students joined Shademakers at the Castleworks studio to practically learn the art of masquerade costume and materials methodology, and finally to produce costume construction. The opportunity to make objects, costume and artefacts became the creative influence of forging characters for the parade finale within a cast of hundreds within the Castle grounds.
Commissioned by Leeds Castle. Supported with funding from the National Lottery by Arts Council England. Produced by Rosa Productions with Shademakers UK and Alan Larsen of The Troop, in partnership with the Leeds Castle staff and volunteers. MC Mark Griffin of Griffin Historical.
Film edited by Jonathan Birkett for Rosa Productions and Leeds Castle.Filming by Douglas Boulton, CNI Television, Drone and further camera by Matt Perry, Eye in the Sky Services and GoPro filming by Ashley Kirk and Joe Richards.
Music Credits:Tom Hodge, Composer: A Tribute to Leeds Castle, Vivien Ellis and Glenn Keiles: Composers and Singers: 11th Century Chant Nick Bicât and Tony Bicât: Composer and Lyrics: She Wolf of France WithTania Holland Williams and the RiverVoice Choir; Blast from the Past; Cancionero; Gong Scourers Morris; Four by Four Bhangra; Uzambezi; Loose Women Morris; Big Fish Arts; MCH Singers; Nepalese Community Drummers
Local Artists:Päivi Seppälä, LV21 (16th, 17th and 19th Centuries)Wendy Daws, The MESS Room (13th, 15th and 18th Centuries)Xtina Lamb, Intra Arts (11/12th, 14th and 20th Centuries)
Other Local Arts Partners:Acrojou (Jesters)Cohesion Plus (Programming and Choreography)Dizzy O’Dare (Phileas Fogg, Tightwire and King Edward Puppet)Ideas Test (Community Liaison and Programming)University for the Creative Arts, Rochester (Century Banners and Props)
Artists, Reenactors and Participants:Acrojou Jesters, Alan Larsen, Alchemy Fireworks,Big Fish Arts, Blast from the Past, Bloco Fogo Samba, Brogdale CIC Community Group, Cadle Historical, Cancionero, Cohesion Plus, Dizzy O’Dare, Fahlein Uir, Four by Four, Bhangra Gong Scourers Morris, Gravesham Urban Knitters, Griffin Historical, Historia Normanis, Home Education Families, Ideas Test, Intra Arts, Island All Stars, Iwade and Newington Youth Groups, Kent Association of the Blind, Kent School of Dance, Kingswood Primary School, Kudos Combat Leeds, and Broomfield C of E Primary School, Leeds Castle Volunteers, Loose Women Morris, LV21 Making More, Maidstone Nepalese Cultural Groups Making More, MCH Singers, Mid Kent College Performing Arts, Nick and Tony Bicât, Northfleet Active Threads, Oakfield Primary Academy, Optivo Family Groups, Päivi Seppälä, Peer Arts, The Plantagenets, Platts Heath Primary School, Pulteneys Regiment; Rethink Mental Health; Rosa Productions; RiverVoice Choir; Selwood HIstorical, Shademakers UK Carnival Club, Square Peg Theatre Arts Group, Temple Hill Primary Academy, The Free Company, The MESS Room, The Rebel Regiment, The Troop, Tom Hodge, Ulcombe C of E Primary School, University of Creative Arts Rochester, University of Kent Circus Society, Uzambezi, Vivien Ellis, Glenn Keiles and Dragon Café Singers, West Hill Primary Academy,Wendy Daws, University of Creative Arts Rochester, Xiazeca Dryzyna, Xtina LambAnd thanks to all re-enactors, performers, participants, musicians and volunteers
And thanks to the Rosa Productions producers Rosemary Richards and Emma Walker, carnival site and stage manager Thomas Vowles, on site costume supervisor Alex McArthur, and all the volunteer and staff team.
