 Shadowland's early development was significantly influenced by Welfare State's format of professional artists engaging communities in collective performance, and this method has become the backbone of Shadowland's way of working ever since.Other major influences are Bread and Puppet Theater, Peter Minshall and Trinidad Carnival ( leading to many years of involvement in Caribana parades) and ongoing working relationships with many Caribbean artists.These influences have contributed to Shadowland's bold and visually distinctive form of theatre and performance events.