Congratulations are in order for Shademakers, the UK carnival club based on the Isle of Wight, who have been selected to design and create over 100 costumes for performers from the Isle of Wight and take part in Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 5th June 2022.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will feature over 5,000 people from across the UK and Commonwealth, and will take place along The Mall against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace. The Pageant will combine street arts, theatre, music, circus, carnival and costume and celebrate the service of Her Majesty’s reign, as well as honouring the collective service of people and communities across the country.
Meeting the team
News OnTheWight met up with Sharon George (Creative Director) and Paul McLaren (Artistic Director) from Shademakers during Ventnor Fringe Festival, where they revealed that they’d been invited by the Pageant Master, Adrian Evans, to be part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Sharon told News OnTheWight,
“It’s a great honour for us as a company to be asked to be involved alongside all the other great companies, but we really do feel like we’re representing the Isle of Wight and representing our community.”
Dotted through this feature you’ll see short video examples of the great work Shademakers have created over the years.
Heraldic beasts influence the carnival theme
Shademakers’ part in this enormous parade is to depict the moment in time before the Queen was coronated. Sharon explained that during her coronation, Her Majesty had walked past ten sculptures of heraldic beasts when entering Westminster Abbey – these would be used as the theme for the 100+ costumes that need to be designed and created.
If you know of Shademakers, you’ll understand that all their work is story led, with a theme behind it, so once they were invited to take part, the team set about researching all the animals, the background to them, the crests and families behind them.
Bringing a modern theme
Bringing a modern theme to the heraldic beasts, Paul explained that Shademakers will focus on beasts that appear in everyday life, such as ants, ravens, pigs, sheep etc. He said,
“The heraldic beasts will be represented in a very playful way on horseback.”
The team will be representing Elizabeth the Princess, during a time of innocence and playfulness, including dancing within the crowds on VE Day.
Considering all dimensions
Shademakers have already been through the process of compiling a list of costumes they have which could fit within the theme (with some adjustments and enhancements, of course).
The design process includes ideas of how the costumes will interact, what the parade will look like for the spectator on the ground, as well as the aerial view – for the cameras from the helicopters – for those watching on TV screens around the World.
Sharon said,
“All of that, as artists, is like setting your scene, like painting your landscape or portrait but it’s a moving one.
“That’s how we visualise it, in a very different way to what a painter would think, because ours is a moving art that comes alive when people are involved with presenting it.”
Sharon explained that as well as considering the spectators, they believe it always important to consider what it’s going to be like for those taking part.
“We’ve all got to enjoy what we’re doing as well.”
Paul added that the building where they are now based (the former Elizabeth Pack building) looks towards Ryde Town Hall. He said,
“We were very much aware that when Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Parade started, it was also the start of the first Ryde Carnival, so that, in a way, has relevance for us to tell a story.
“It means that we are coming full circle.”
37,000 million viewers
Paul also told us that there’ll be around 37,000 million people viewing the Pageant, with people on the Isle of Wight becoming part of this historic monarchic World event.
This is nothing new for Shademakers though, they were involved in the Golden Jubilee Pageant 20 years ago, and stood also on the Bridge ten years ago, Paul explained,
“What it represents for us is the wealth of a nation (passion and achievement) and all that’s combined within it and that’s what we try and represent in this art form.
“Everyone can be part of something which will be breathtaking.”
Sharon added,
“We intend to fill the streets, bring the colour, bring the celebration, but also bring the story, heritage and meaning behind what we’re doing and a lot of what we do is to just regenerate streets and cities an towns to make people proud of where they live.”
Touring the Island
Shademakers are planning to take the section of the parade that they’ll be responsible for and touring it around the Island.
Paul explained,
“Whatever happens with Department in Ryde – the new cultural creation centre – we want this to be the start of something new, particularly after the heavy period we’ve all been through.
“We need to look at a new world, we need to look at the future and how we celebrate and work together as people.”
How to take part
If you’d like to get involved in this exciting project, the Department on Cross Street in Ryde will be the base for all activity.
Look out for the campaign in the coming months, where not just those who want to perform can get involved, but also the technical crews, support, transport links and business sponsors.
Listen to the podcast
If you want to learn more, listen to the podcast with Sharon and Paul below (18 mins)
Find out more
Find out more about Shademakers via their Website, Facebook, Instagram or You Tube accounts.
