This year marked the 800th anniversary of the Lord Mayor’s Show, with half a million people lining the streets and millions more who watched it live on BBC television.
Lord Mayor’s Show
Through the City Bridge Trust and his work with Drake Music, Dave Darch and a small group of disabled adults and staff that he regularly works with were asked to take part in the Lord Mayors Show.
The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of the nation’s most spectacular events involving some 6,500 participants, 70 floats, 20 military and civilian bands, together with dozens of horses and carriages, and the magnificent Gold State Coach. Its purpose is to convey the newly-elected Lord Mayor from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear an oath of allegiance to the Sovereign, in a procession dating back to 1215.
We worked in partnership with several other leading arts organisations promoting an inclusive London and celebrating some of the work funded by City Bridge Trust – Green Candle Dance Company, Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre and Castlehaven Community Association. To celebrate the Trust’s 20th Anniversary they put together an inclusive float, by showcasing dancers, musicians and street performers of all ages and abilities.
The group were excited and slightly nervous about performing at such a prestigious event, something we worked through by talking regularly about what would happen and by rehearsing our music for several months before the show. We used iPads, laptops, microphones, toy voice changers, hand percussion and a reprogrammed wii remote control to create sounds for the dancers and actor to perform alongside our float.
We worked hard and had a lot of fun preparing for the parade but on the day itself… it rained! A lot! We were thankfully under plastic sheeting on the float but the poor dancers, many of them over 60, danced on in the rain in their plastic ponchos. As you can see from the pictures it still didn’t dampen spirits!
Arts organisations involved in the float;
Non-disabled people can make music in many ways and at many different levels. Our vision is a world where disabled people have the same range of opportunities, and a culture of integrated music-making, where disabled and non-disabled musicians work together as equals.
We are committed to bring dance as participation and performance to children, young people and older adults in our community. And through dance, to create healthier people and healthier, more integrated communities.
Castlehaven is a small but high profile, vibrant community association that continues to develop and respond to the needs of local residents.
Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre creates theatre for and with young people from the age of 2 through to 25. We use theatre to explore the world in which young people live, challenging, questioning and raising possibilities for change.
Our vision is for London to be a city where all individuals and communities can thrive, especially those experiencing disadvantage and marginalisation. We aim to reduce inequality and grow more cohesive communities for a London that serves everyone.