WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO THE LOST CARNIVAL IN CREWE, CHESHIRE 

Enjoy an evening with family and friends at The Lost Carnival in the Victorian splendour of Queen’s Park in Crewe this May. For three short nights, families will step into a world unlike any other in this large-scale outdoor immersive theatre experience from award-winning producers Wild Rumpus (Just So Festival) and So It Is (Bury Met, Ramsbottom Festival), brought to life by theatre partner LAS Theatre.

The Battle of the Carnivals is a story beyond your wildest imagination. Meet The Birds and The Ingénues – two rival carnival families battling for supremacy.  Expect spellbinding theatre and enthralling installations, circus, music, visual trickery and sideshows. 

Start listening to the fictional radio documentary podcasts by sleuth Arthur Bird at www.thelostcarnival.org.uk. Follow the story and use the podcasts and clues to uncover the carnival’s mysteries. Tell Arthur what you think on The Lost Carnival Facebook page to help influence the drama and investigation in advance and at the live event.

The Birds and the Ingénues have been scouring the world to recruit some incredible performers who will join them as they battle to be crowned the most glorious carnival ever. Pin your colours to the mast. #teamingénue or #teambird? Browse their family albums, get costume ideas, make a choice who to support and help decide the most incredible contest in carnival history at www.thelostcarnival.org.uk.The Lost Carnival Cast - Brett Harkness

The Birds exude mystery and swagger, dark glamour and intoxicating performance. They are out to clear their name after being accused of sabotage at the 2015 Lost Carnival in Bury. Encounter the charismatic leader of The Bird Carnival, Sergei Bird, their glittering star and aerial gymnast Anastasiya Abramovich and the mischievous Maks Mager the magician at the event. Also performing for #teambird are incredible circus artist and trampoline acrobat Max Calaf Seve, master multi-tasker Rimski on his unique bicycle piano and La Sibylle, a curious female prophetess.

The Ingénues seem to be the heroes of the story with sequins, sparkle and colourful shine aplenty. Look out for Popo Ingénue, the Ingénue Carnival’s inspirational and adventurous leader, Strongman Ivor Pavlov and the impeccable Clare V’oyant at the event. Also performing for #teamingénue are Pif Paf Theatre with Planetary – three travellers on their spinning planet forged from 80 metres of steel pipe – plus unforgettable aerial tree-top performance and ground acrobatics from Whispering Woods.

Getting the entire carnival crowd going will be the infectious Voodoo Love Orchestra with their big band sounds, plus many other intriguing acts. Show your support for The Birds or The Ingénues throughout the evening (they will need your help) and witness a thrilling culmination if you dare.

Keep your ears to the ground for more news…all we can reveal is get your dancing shoes ready.

Choose your friends, choose your foes, as The Battle of the Carnivals begins.

Northern Soul has teamed up with The Lost Carnival to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a family ticket to a carnival adventure this May bank holiday.

To be in with a chance of winning simply sign up to the Northern Soul newsletter (details of how to do this are on the right hand side of the page), and send an email to stephaniealderson@northernsoul.me.uk with the title ‘The Lost Carnival’.

Closing date is May 22, 2016

Winners will be picked at random and notified by May 23, 2016

What: The Lost Carnival

Where: Queen’s Park, Crewe

When: May 28/29/30, 2016

Tickets: www.thelostcarnival.org.uk

Sign up to the newsletter at www.thelostcarnival.org.uk and follow The Lost Carnival on Facebook and twitter #thelostcarnival.

Tickets £12 adults, under 3s free. Carnival-goers should dress for the weather, and wear sturdy shoes. The audience will enter on timed tickets between 4 and 6.30pm. The timed tickets are to stagger entry so that you can be introduced to the carnival and its mysteries in small groups. Every year, as Summer arrives and the evenings grow longer, The Lost Carnival will appear in a different locality. The Lost Carnival in Cheshire is the second Lost Carnival event with the first Lost Carnival taking place in Bury in 2015.