20 September 2007
Sunshine kids are invited to
participate in 2007 Lord Mayor’s Show
Sunshine International Arts, which has been working with young
people in Lambeth and Southwark, is one of six London groups to
have received £10,500 in funding from the Lord Mayor of the City of
London to create colourful carnival costumes which will feature in
the Lord Mayor’s Show.
In the coming weeks, around 30 young people aged 7-19 years from
South London will be hard at work learning new skills and
developing their creative and artistic flair as the group prepares
to entertain around 300,000 spectators when the parade hits the
streets of London on Saturday 10 November.
SiA specialises in teaching the design, construction and
performance skills associated with carnival, masquerade and street
theatre. Around a dozen experts have put on workshops in Peckham
for young people to create spectacular costumes to reflect their
theme – Dance of a Free Spirit: Rebellion, Resistance and
Abolition. This is the final stage of a three-year exploration of
the slave triangle, looking at the history of the slave trade and
its connections to carnival and the new world.
Workshops also cover dance, music-making stilt-walking and
make-up skills, which helps raise the confidence of the young
people to participate in some of the highest-profile public events
in the UK . In addition to the Lord Mayor’s Show, members of the
group have also taken part this year in the Notting Hill Carnival
and the Mayor’s Thames Festival. Participants of the projects will
dance alongside the float as it travels the 1.7mile Show route
through the Square Mile.
Ray Mahabir, Artistic Director at SiA, said: “We are delighted
that Sunshine International Arts has been selected for the Lord
Mayor’s Show community float scheme.
“The workshops really help to boost the esteem of all those who
take part and events like the Lord Mayor’s Show provide an
international platform for them to show off all they have
learned.”
The Lord Mayor’s community float scheme extends links between
the Square Mile and neighbouring City fringe boroughs. Sponsorship
in terms of finance and through expert workshops allows group
participants’ to develop their talents – which are demonstrated on
the day to the Show’s audience across the world.
Ends
Notes to editors
Facts about the Lord Mayor’s Show:
- First Lord Mayor was elected in 1215; the Show is now in its
792 nd year.
- It welcomes in the 680 th Lord Mayor of the City of London
.
- The Show takes place annually on the second Saturday in
November.
- At 5pm , the Lord Mayor will light the touch paper to the Lord
Mayor’s Fireworks display on the River Thames between Blackfriars
and Waterloo Bridge . A team of eight pyrotechnicians takes
two days to set more more than half a tonne of giant fireworks,
some of which shoot more than 600ft into the air. It is the largest
firework display in London .
- The word “float”, used to describe components of a parade or
procession, is derived from the Lord Mayor’s Show when originally
the exhibits would do just that - “float” along the Thames in
barges.
- The Pageantmaster, Dominic Reid, is responsible for organising
the logistics of the Show – this includes arranging for the lifting
and checking of 3,500 manhole covers, installation of 4,000
grandstand seats and 6,300 galvanised crowd barriers and laying of
43 tonnes of sand. He also organises the 6,000 participants, 180
vehicles and 20 marching bands.
- Last year there were more than 6,000 participants, 1,550
military personnel, 249 vehicles from Morris Minors to open top
buses, 71 floats, 24 bands of all shapes and sizes and a giant
mechanical Bengali tiger.
- To enjoy the celebrations, get to the City for the morning of
Saturday 10 th November and nab a place on the well-marked route.
The procession will weave its way from Guildhall in the heart of
the City, through the historic streets of the Square Mile, passing
the Mansion House and St. Paul ’s Cathedral before continuing to
the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand .
- For more details on the Lord Mayor’s Show, including route,
timings and road closures, go to
www.lordmayorshow.org
About the Role of the Lord Mayor:
The Lord Mayor of the City of London acts as an international
ambassador for the UK business and financial services industry. He
spends up to 80 days a year, traveling to around 20 countries to
promote this industry and the Square Mile as a place of excellence
in which to do business. As head of the City of London the Lord
Mayor is involved with local government and London-wide issues,
from the City of London's work in the
regeneration of neighbouring boroughs to transport and
environmental issues which affect the City. On behalf of the
Sovereign and the Government, he also acts as host when the City of
London provides hospitality for visiting heads of state and foreign
dignitaries.
About the City of London Corporation:
The ancient City of London Corporation has a 21 st-century role
supporting the business city as the world’s leading international
financial and business centre. The City of London Corporation
provides local government services for the City of London “Square
Mile” at the heart of London – but its responsibilities also extend
far beyond the City boundaries and include paying for and running
the Barbican Centre, Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, and three
wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port Health
Authority.
Press enquiries to:
Lesley Mair, T: 020 7332 1754. M: 07785 528 453,
lesley.mair@cityoflondon.gov.uk