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| 500,000 see Godiva Carnival! | ||
 Left to right: Mike Jones, Peter Deeley, Tim Hurdiss and Kieran Leahy (all Oakmoor Deeley) with carnival performer Claire Johnson The award-winning Godiva Carnival will reach a major milestone when its touring band section will support the turning on of the Christmas lights in Coventry. The Carnival – designed and directed by the Belgrade Theatre special events team – will have been watched by more than half a million people in the last six months. The Godiva Carnival will feature some of the costumes and the Godiva float which the special events team created for the opening ceremony of the International Children’s Games and tell the story of the Spirit of Coventry from its medieval past to the present day. The Carnival is expected to get bigger and better in the New Year following the announcement of a major new sponsorship deal for the theatre’s special events team. Oakmoor Deeley, the joint venture company behind the £130 million Belgrade Plaza, has agreed a five-figure backing for a range of events to be undertaken by the award-winning team over the next 12 months. The Belgrade Plaza is a mixed development of hotels, apartments, restaurants, casino and a secure multi-storey car-park which will revitalise part of the city centre. Jane Hytch, of the Belgrade, said the 500,000 milestone underlines the national standing of the theatre’s events programme. “We always felt the ‘Spirit of Coventry’ was a stunning spectacle and it proved to be a massive hit in the International Children’s Games and Godiva Carnival,” she said. “Since then it has won three national trophies – best newcomer, best performance on the road and best overall entry – in the 36th Torchlight procession in Kendal. “We also performed in front of 200,000 people at the Lord Mayor’s Thames Festival, where we have been invited back again next year, and to 150,000 people at the Bridgewater Carnival. “A staggering half a million people will have seen the Godiva Carnival once it has travelled through the city centre during the Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday.(November 20) “We are focussed on making theatre accessible to the community and involving the community in the performances. We worked with over 1,000 Coventry school children and young people in the preparation of the International Children’s Games event and the Godiva Carnival. “Support from Coventry City Council, Arts Council England, Advantage West Midlands and sponsorship from private companies like Belgrade Plaza shows their commitment to the community and allows us to continue with the special events programme and build on our past success.” Kieran Leahy, Director of Oakmoor Deeley, said Belgrade Plaza was very committed to supporting Coventry arts. “It is essential to ensure that the arts and cultural scene thrives in the city and we believe that involving the local community is the best way to achieve this,” he said. “The Belgrade special events team expand the theatre’s role outside the theatre itself and make their work accessible to a wider audience. “We initially backed the opening ceremony at the International Children’s Games and last year’s Godiva Carnival, both of which were extremely well received and we are delighted to continue our support of the theatre. “The special events lined up by the theatre for 2006 are certain to have a positive impact in Coventry and beyond the region. “There is a rich artistic tradition in Coventry and it is in everyone’s interests to see it thrive and grow and hopefully our involvement will help that happen.” |
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