Introducing the Suffragettes who will be showing their true colours in the Barnaby Parade…
Scores of women will be marching as Suffragettes in this year’s Barnaby Parade (taking place on Saturday 16th June at midday) to celebrate the centenary of some women gaining the right to vote.
The much-loved Barnaby Parade will return with spectacular floats and costumes from community groups and local school children, and will this year follow the theme of roots/routes.
Heather Lloyd who is organising the Suffragettes entry said that more than 100 women will be taking part and she is very much looking forward to their involvement making an impact.
Heather commented: “It’s 100 years since some women got the right to vote and there have been marches all over the country to celebrate and remember this important fact.
“I really wanted to do something and it fits so well with this year’s Barnaby theme of roots/routes.
“It is the route to our equality. It’s important for us to remember why we’re doing this. It may seem hard for modern women to imagine that at one time we had no rights.
“We’re bringing all ages together with young people and an octogenarian.”
Working with Macclesfield Community ArtSpace, Heather has sourced some Macclesfield fabric in the significant colours of purple and green and her mother is helping her to make hat bands and sashes for the costumes.
From 1908 the Suffragettes adopted the colours of violet, white and green; violet symbolised dignity, white for purity and green for hope.
Heather and her group have been working with the Print Mill in Macclesfield to make their banners and to screen print the sashes they’ll wear in the parade.
John Hartshorn, artistic director of Barnaby Parade, meanwhile has been busy helping out this year’s participants to get their floats and costumes ready.
Based at Macclesfield Community ArtSpace, John and his team have held workshops on Tuesdays where people can call in to create floats, costumes and props.
“We have the biggest dressing up box in Macclesfield,” commented John.
“Everyone is welcome to come along and there are lots of people on hand to help with making floats and sewing costumes. We’re a friendly bunch and you can get hot and cold drinks.
“We can also go into schools and help them gather their ideas together and work with them too. We want as many people to get involved as possible.
“It is a great community event where everyone has a lot of fun. I can help with ideas on how to create a strong look. It’s all about costume, sound and movement.”
Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival returns from 15th June – 24th June 2018.
The full Barnaby programme and tickets for events, can be found at: www.barnabyfestival.org.uk
Tickets are also available from Macclesfield Visitor Information Centre at Macclesfield Town Hall.
