Mardi Gras history lessons
Organisers of this year’s Mardi Gras parade Marching Group will turn to ancient history to make a spectacular statement on modern political struggles.
Historical themes are nothing new for the iconic Oxford Street event, but the 2007 Marching Group will go much further back than usual with its Greek Love entry.
The Marching Group will feature 100 people between two floats, accompanied by a huge Trojan horse.
It’s a bit of a battle cry, Marching Group spokesperson and parade creative director Graeme Browning told Sydney Star Observer.
The whole theme of it is there’s a battle still to be fought, but there’s nothing wrong with looking glamorous while you’re fighting the battle.
There’s going to be a huge horse. We’re very excited about that. That’s going to be somewhere around the middle of the parade, we’re thinking.
The Marching Group entry is bigger than usual this year because of sponsorship from Gaydar.com.au.
Normally we have one truck with lights and sound, this year we’re having two, Browning said.
Organisers are shipping in costumes from overseas to cater for the expanded entry. They are also recruiting more participants.
The lead float in the Mardi Gras parade on 3 March will also look to the past as it makes a statement on the community today.
Browning said the float would refer to the things that have been put in place in the last 100 years that have led us to the point we’re at now, what those things are and perhaps what the world would have been if a lot of these things hadn’t happened.
It’s about the gay community but it’s also about the wider community. Mardi Gras’ statement is often about ourselves but I think as a community more and more we’re concerned about the world we live in.
Organisers have not announced the lead float’s theme.
A Mardi Gras Marching Group briefing session will be held on Saturday 10 February from 2pm at Stonewall Hotel. To sign up before then, email parade@mardigras.org.au. Marchers need to be available for rehearsals in the second half of February.
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