FEATURE Carnival Events at Opera Holland Park

Featuring the Carnival Arts

Carnival Village Trust is London’s development agency for Carnival Arts. They host strategic arts venues and work with carnival arts organisations. As well as facilitating arts workshops and small projects, they have been behind major events such as Notting Hill Carnival.

In partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Festival, Carnival Village Trust organised for Notting Hill Carnival’s return to Opera Holland Park for summer 2022 for the second time. CVT brought a programme of calypso, steelpan and Caribbean jazz to the theatre on 17, 19 and 20 August which celebrated the culture and heritage of Carnival.

Steelband Summer held on the 17 August 2022, showcased London’s finest steelbands. Ebony, Endurance, Mangrove and Pan Nation who took their audience on a musical journey of musical renditions both old and new, with a special performance by Anne Fridal.

Calypso Masquerade held on the 18 August 2022 saw sterling performances by local calypsonians, Alexander D Great, Giselle Carter and Helena B.

Pan Jazz held on Friday 19 August 2022 was an evening of Caribbean jazz from the Engine Room Collective featuring steelpan virtuosi Andre White, Samuel Dubois, Carlene “Sweet Wrists” Etienne, Deborah “Pan Diva” Eden, Duvone Stewart and Annise “Haffers” Hadeed.

A night with David Rudder hosted on the 20 August 2022, saw Rudder, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s top calypsonians of our time blessed the stage and fully entertained his audience, who danced in the aisles and on stage to his world renowned hits, such as The Hammer, Calypso Music, High Mass and many more.

This series of performances was part of the Kensington and Chelsea Festival 2022 which was born out of a desire to lift spirits through celebrating culture and creativity. It included creative experiments enabling audiences to see artists bring new ideas to life spanning the summer months. Everyone is now looking forward to the CVT’s 2023 events in Opera Holland Park.