Peter Minshall – Early life and career beginnings – [From Wikipedia]
Minshall was born in Georgetown, Guyana, but moved to Trinidad as a small child after his father took a job as a cartoonist. Growing up in the capital, Port of Spain, Minshall was exposed to Carnival from a young age. He made his first costume at the age of 13. He attended Queen’s Royal College, then went on to study Theatre Design at the Central School of Art and Design in London.
Peter Minshall designed Carnival costumes for various relatives and family friends, even before he left school. At art school, he wrote a thesis on the bat (a traditional Carnival character) and his first major theatrical commission, for a production at Sadler’s Wells, came after a director saw a portfolio of his Carnival designs. Continue reading →
A jubilant masquerader from Ronnie and Caro’s Ah Come Back Home parades on stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain. Photo: Ahdre Alexander
Crack went the whip of the lead whipmaster, furiously pelting lash at the stage. Dressed like a mad bumblebee in red and yellow stripes, satin pantaloons and long sleeves, he was part of the small mas band Whip War presented by The Original Jab Jab, led by Ronald Alfred.
At one point, it seemed all the jab jabs were pelting lash, either at each other in mock battles, or at the audience, and the whole air resounded with a crackling like fire. Continue reading →
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Thursday April 17, 2014 – How is it that Carnival, a festival that is so strongly influenced by the French, found its nursery on an island that was never colonized by the French?
From the time I read Joachim Mark’s fervent and bold assertion that Grenada gave Carnival to Trinidad, I could not help but agree with him.
Mark, an educator, history buff and a great historical archivist, has since gone to the Great Beyond. I read his assertion as a college student and his thesis has remained with me all those year. And, from time to time in my perusing through carnival history literature, I will come across passing comments on the issue that will strengthen Mark’s argument. Continue reading →
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — After several rumours of his death surfaced in the Trinidad and Tobago media a few months ago, the ‘Calypso King of the World’ has moved from a coma to the stage. One can safely say, “The Birdie flies again!”
The Mighty Sparrow, Slinger Francisco
Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, has been performing on stage at the Kaiso House Calypso Tent for the 2014 carnival season. His debut appearance on Thursday, February 13, 2014, moved the audience at the Queens Park Savannah venue to tears.
Accompanied by his wife Margaret, Sparrow was first warmly greeted by executive members of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), including calypsonian Twiggy, Marvelous Marva and Duane O’Connor. O’Connor had the honour of assisting Sparrow into his jacket moments before his performance. Continue reading →
A promotional video for Trinidad with a focus on the island’s leisure activities, festivals, celebrations, tourism attractions, entertainment, cuisine, eco-tourism activities and much more!
Produced by Cameraworks Productions International
Caribbean Office: 24 Luis Street, Woodbrook, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Millions to be spent on Trinidad Carnival for 2012
Caribbean Airlines reporting that 220, 000 people booked for carnival.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Friday February 3, 2012 – The Trinidad Carnival has been described as “big business” which now has a total allocation of $96.5 million to be spent.
Yesterday the Trinidad Cabinet approved a supplemental $53 million for the event that already had an expended budget of $43.5 million.
Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism, Winston “Gypsy” Peters explained that with Caribbean Airlines reporting 220, 000 people booked to visit the country for Carnival, which will culminate with two days of mass on February 20 and 21 at various, it was big business.
By Andre Bagoo Tuesday, March 8 2011 – Trinidad Newsday
FORMER Junior Calypso Monarch Karene Asche yesterday morning became the first woman to win the National Calypso Monarch crown in almost a decade, and in the process made history by taking home the competition’s largest ever cash prize of $2 million.
At the age of 26, Asche now becomes the youngest ever National Calypso Monarch in the competition’s modern history. However, Neville “Growling Tiger” Marcano still holds the all-time record for youngest monarch for when he, at the age of 24, won the crown in 1939, the year the annual competition first began.
Asche, who won the Junior Calypso Monarch competitions in 1998 and 2003, took home the crown at Dimanche Gras early yesterday morning after pleasing the judges with her rendition of the political calypsos “Uncle Jack” and “Careful What Yuh Ask For”.
Her victory, eight years after her mentor Sandra Des Vignes Millington (Singing Sandra) took the crown in 2003, was the culmination of a competition which saw calypsonians re-embrace the artform’s political elements after years which saw social commentary dominate the show.
She is also the fourth woman to win the Calypso Monarch crown, after Calypso Rose (McArtha Lewis) in 1978, Denyse Plummer in 2001 and Singing Sandra in 1999 and 2003.
Guyana-born Trinidadian Peter Minshall – Carnival’s Creative Genius with his “Dancing Mobiles”
Peter Minshall – See Interview and videos below
Peter Minshall – Early life and career beginnings – [From Wikipedia]
Minshall was born in Georgetown, Guyana, but moved to Trinidad as a small child after his father took a job as a cartoonist. Growing up in the capital, Port of Spain, Minshall was exposed to Carnival from a young age. He made his first costume at the age of 13. He attended Queen’s Royal College, then went on to study Theatre Design at the Central School of Art and Design in London.
Peter Minshall designed Carnival costumes for various relatives and family friends, even before he left school. At art school, he wrote a thesis on the bat (a traditional Carnival character) and his first major theatrical commission, for a production at Sadler’s Wells, came after a director saw a portfolio of his Carnival designs. Continue reading →
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