Carnival came to Hampstead Heath last weekend.
A colourful project featuring costumes and performances created by residents at sheltered accommodation facilities around Camden came to fruition with an “intergenerational carnival” parade on the Heath.
READ MORE: South End Green coffee business wants to help revamp area – and get fountain back workingOrganised by the Kentish Town-based SeeThrough theatre group, virtual craft, drumming and dance sessions saw older people keep themselves busy and even create their own stunning outfits as part of a “CarnivAll”.
SeeThrough’s Julia Evangelista told this newspaper: “It was an amazing day, and a really wonderful and diverse performance. It has been a life-saver for many of the people involved,
“Once more, the democratic and inclusive traits of carnival served not only to make older people visible but also to portray them in positive ways, as producers of quality art able to contribute in society.”
The older carnival performers came from sheltered accommodation including the Greenwood, Ashdown and Cressfield facilities.
Participant Anna Erikson said: “It was a wonderful illustration of individuals coming together to create a fabulous carnival for all the community to enjoy and be awed at how much creativity was possible despite the lockdown.
”We were isolated but reached out in this incredible way.”
SeeThrough Theatre is a non-profit which is now in its third year working with older and vulnerable people in Camden.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here