The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant will take place on Sunday 5th June 2022, processing along The Mall and surrounding streets in celebration of The Queen’s 70-year reign. The organising company, The Platinum Jubilee Pageant, has commissioned artists and communities from around the country and Commonwealth including military personnel, performers, key workers and volunteers from across the UK, who will come together to tell the story of The Queen’s 70-year reign and our transforming society.
The world’s first Platinum Jubilee Sustainable Sari is designed by London based Nutkhut and Arts University Bournemouth fashion students and chosen by internationally renowned designer Paul Costelloe. The design of the sari embodies the spirit of the Platinum Jubilee and the Commonwealth, and is made from sustainable recycled plastics. 20 dancers will wear the sari print, as well as two custom made four metre high puppets draped in this stunning winning design, which will travel alongside a six metre high, four-tiered wedding cake as the visual centrepiece of The Wedding Party chapter of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant’s Let’s Celebrate section.
Spotlight on the acts: Cirque Bijou
Unity, by Bristol-based Cirque Bijou celebrates unity and a unique UK. Our unique and exciting future is projected through fashion (costumes by Teatum Jones), music and the physical prowess of elite athletes and performers – both disabled and non-disabled. The section features performers and acrobats animating a large mobile stage. The centrepiece is aerialist artist, suspended beneath a vast huge helium balloon (heliosphere) bearing the image of HMQ. A group of elite BMX stunt cyclists perform on a huge mobile structure, jumping from here on to moving Land Rovers alongside. The mobile structure also features a trampoline wall. There is live music from the Steam Down Band and 90 young hip-hop dancers from the Tottenham-based group Steppaz.
Animals in the Pageant
Here’s where you can spot the creatures of the Platinum Juilee Pageant:
Chapter 1: The Princess and the Dragon
Act 3 Let’s Celebrate begins with The Hatchling, a colossal dragon puppet by Trigger. It will span The Mall and is bigger than a double-decker bus.
Chapter 2: The Queen’s Beasts
Created by Shademakers on the Isle of Wight, this is a panoply of creatures, each representing a different nation of the United Kingdom. Over a hundred elaborate costumes in four sections will represent the animals of the Four Nations of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, led by lions in their region’s heraldry. The English section has swans, peacocks, ravens, falcons and dancing roses. The Welsh section has a dragon, chickens, pigs and sheep. The Northern Irish section features a snake, an Irish Wolfhound and a bull.
Chapter 4: The Coronation
Brent-based Mahogany Carnival Art are creating an interpretation of the Coronation in Afro-Caribbean carnival-style by imagining the animal kingdom’s response to Her Majesty The Queen’s accession to the throne whilst in Kenya. There will be an array of animal carnival costumes made up of elephants, giraffes, and flamingos (costumed mobility scooters).
Chapter 5: From Tiny Acorns
Greenwich and UK based Emergency Exit Arts & Mandinga represent the four nations are represented by flora and fauna. The fauna section is made up of a colourful array of large-scale puppet creatures, including a Tongan lion, a dragon fish, sea horses and tropical frogs.
Chapter 10: The Queen’s Favourites
Coventry–based Imagineer’s Godiva leads a playful procession which includes interpretations of The Queen’s beloved pony ‘Peggy’ and many of her favourite galloping horses including Royal Ascot Gold Cup Winner ‘Estimate’ surrounded by a pack of mischievous puppet Corgis. Swan-Upping is represented by beautiful winged costumes and flag bearers.
Boy Blue – New Act Announcement
Prolific dance act, Boy Blue, are confirmed to be representing the 2010s era as part of The Times of Our Lives act. The award-winning hip-hop dance company will perform a set with a team of 25 professional dancers, championing and reflecting youth, future leaders and creators. Boy Blue are celebrating and representing the many diverse cultures and subcultures that enrich and elevate the UK. Individuality and identity are also key parts of this decade which can be seen in the choreography, as well as promoting unity and collaboration.
Creative Director of this celebratory piece is one of Boy Blue’s Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, with Associate Choreography from long time company member Bruno Perrier. The Boy Blue team are supported by two fantastic Dance Captains, Yolanda Newsome and Jess Lewis.
The 2010s set is choreographed to an upbeat and vibrant track mixed by Boy Blue’s other Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE. Michael is a renowned producer, composer and DJ, whose 20-year career history is firmly etched in the UK black music industry.
Emergency Exit Arts & Mandiga
From Tiny Acorns by Greenwich and UK based Emergency Exit Arts & Mandinga showcases the spirit and longevity of The Queen’s reign and the diverse community and identity that forms the UK and Commonwealth.
It features a huge Oak Tree with a Maypole rising out of the branches – maypole dancers weave ribbons in and out to form an image of Her Majesty the Queen. Colourful masquerading costume, folk music and dance representative of the four nations and our diverse communities. It will feature 30 ‘baianas’, dancing to hits such as ‘I feel good’. This role is traditionally given to older women in the community, and 30 older women have been chosen from Clapham and Preston for the role.
The four nations are represented by flora and fauna. The fauna section is made up of a colourful array of large-scale puppet creatures, including a Tongan lion, a dragon fish, sea horses and tropical frogs. The flora section features a ‘Pineapple Queen’ followed by a field of pansies, strawberries and lotus flowers. Colourful spirit creatures make up the tail section of the group, made up of a contingent day of the dead characters.
The tree is flanked by drummers and percussion musicians celebrating folklore and the rich history of the UK. There will be exuberant participants from Beats Carnival in Belfast and collaborating artists from Cardiff. The maypole dancers are from E15 dance school in Southend. Blackpool dance school House of Wings will also appear.
