William Shakespeare was brought back to life on the Isle of Wight yesterday (Saturday) on the 400th anniversary of his death in 1616.
Thanks to the New Carnival Company, the Bard visited famous and iconic locations around the Island as part of a Shakespeare Lives roadshow. Actors from the IoW Shakespeare Company and musicians from Freshwater and Totland Samba Band joined the NCC team, who have produced a 4 metre tall puppet to lead their Shakespeare-themed Mardi Gras parade in June.
The larger-than-life puppet and its entourage visited Appley Tower; Ryde Pier; The Pointers Inn, Newchurch; Ventnor Haven; The Needles; Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House throughout the day.
Shakespeare is said to have enjoyed a ‘special’ relationship with the Isle of Wight, through his friend and commissioner George Carey, Captain of the Isle of Wight 1582 to 1603 and resident at Carisbrooke Castle. There is however no evidence that he actually visited the Island during his lifetime.
Frankie Goldspink, Creative Director of the New Carnival Company said:
“We were bowled over by the enthusiastic response from local audiences and from around the globe. We earned over 20,000 twitter impressions throughout the day and a further 10,000 views on Facebook. William has promised to return to the Island in the summer, where he will lead the New Carnival Company’s Mardi Gras parade at Ryde, on Saturday 25 June”.
This years Mardi Gras parade takes place on Saturday 25th June from 15:00.
Photos by Graham Reading Photography
