Pan Master Dudley Nesbitt is all set to take us on a musical journey at A Brief History of Pan. Wednesday 2nd May 2018 7pm – 9pm RJC Dance Studio @ The Mandela Centre, Leeds LS7 3HY Born in the Caribbean and delighting the world since the early 20th century, the sweet sound of steel pan has roots in rebellion and uprising. From Trinidad and Tobago to the streets of Leeds steel pan is at the heart of authentic Caribbean Carnival, brought to popularity in England by the Windrush Generation, as time goes by it is an artform whose existence Continue Reading

A TASTE OF CARNIVAL – FAMILY WORKSHOP DAY  Date                Bank Holiday Monday 2nd April 2018                       Admission       A one off registration fee of £5 payable to register and secure your booking Venue               Leeds West Indian Centre, Laycock Place Leeds 7 Time                  Please arrive for sign in from 10:00am Workshops start 10:30am prompt. The day will end by around 4:30pm following group performances. You can register online here Who is A Taste of Carnival for? This is a family event sharing carnival arts and crafts with children aged 6-15 accompanied by an adult. Adults – come prepared to Continue Reading

Tickets now on sale The Carnival Golden anniversary celebrations continue with Queen of Chapeltown.  Join West Yorkshire Playhouse as a company of professional actors and community participants come together to share and celebrate the story of the birth of Leeds West Indian Carnival. Woven from first hand accounts collected by Colin Grant, curated by Burt Caesar and directed by Associate Director Amy Leach; The Queen of Chapeltown follows the stories of those who campaigned, sewed and danced their way to the first carnival in 1967 and of one woman’s journey to become a Carnival Queen. 13-15 Sept. Book tickets – https://goo.gl/HTk53R

Leeds Carnival never fails to attract the biggest names, and they’re out in force this weekend for our 50th birthday. We are privileged to welcome Barbadian soca music star Edwin Yearwood (pictured above) to Leeds, with the “Soca King” appearing across the city to join the celebrations with us. Anyone lucky enough to grab a ticket for our now-sold-out King & Queen Show at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on Friday evening will be treated to a special guest appearance from Edwin. If you weren’t lucky enough to grab tickets, the entire show will be streamed live in both the Leeds Continue Reading

Tickets are now on sale for the new play, Carnival Chronicles, commissioned especially for Leeds West Indian Carnival’s 50th year. In this moving play, charting a love story spanning 50 years, from the Caribbean to Leeds, Melody and Cyril tell their story of migration, love, loss and celebration. Carnival Chronicles is embroidered with key moments and images from Leeds West Indian Carnival’s half century history and the real life memories of the pioneers and community that brought Carnival to the city. Performances: West Yorkshire Playhouse September 11th | Box Office:  0113 213 7700 Mandela Centre October 20th | Box office: Continue Reading

We’re on the hunt for voices for our Carnival Choir. As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, Carnival Choir will bring together 50 singers and musicians drawn from the local community.  Accompanied by contemporary and pan musicians and directed by acclaimed musicians Christella Litras, Roy Johnson and Cleve Freckleton, Carnival Choir will perform choral renditions of calypso and soca classics which capture the journey of the music of Carnival over the last 50 years. This is an amazing opportunity to work alongside professional and semi professional singers including Leeds own Caution Collective. WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? We are looking Continue Reading

There are just 50 days to go until our 50th anniversary Carnival parade on Bank Holiday Monday 28th August. Across the UK and as far afield as the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada revellers are counting down to the biggest, brightest and best Leeds West Indian Carnival ever! Troupes are busy coming up with the amazing costumes that will hit the road; designers are constructing fantasy creations in top secret for our Prince & Princess Show and King & Queen spectacular (SOLD OUT), whilst witty calypsonians fine tune their entries for our Soca Monarch Show. With a three month exhibition at Continue Reading