The Making of Eshu at the Crossroads – a dance and puppetry performance for all by Sue Buckmaster (Theatre-Rites) and Miguel Altunaga
11 August 2025
We first met in 2019 when we worked together on Chotto Xenos, a dance show for young people by the Akram Khan Dance Company. From the moment we met, we recognised our mutual interest in ritual performance and animism.
It was at this very early stage that we first started to play with ideas of how to interpret the Afro Cuban Deity of Eshu through music, dance and puppetry.
That flow was stopped in its tracks by the pandemic but, once we could, we arranged a week of research and development in 2023 with space provided by the Acosta Dance Centre in Woolwich. During that very fertile week, we exchanged knowledge about the Yoruba Deities, which are a strong part of Miguel’s heritage, and the various Puppetry forms which Sue is an expert in. Eshu, who is the guardian of the crossroads, doorways and new beginnings was at the heart of all our ideas, and we instantly saw a show emerging.
We both had experience, many years ago, of performing and creating work outdoors, but we hadn’t exercised those outdoor muscles for a while. We knew that there was a real connection to the frequent outdoor festivities in Cuba, and beyond, where Deities are celebrated and we started to dream of creating a piece for the outdoors.
When we saw the call out for Without Walls it was perfect timing. We were clear that we could make a dynamic outdoor show with two dancers and a puppeteer.
We developed the choreographic language, inspired by Afro Cuban rhythms supplied by composer Domenico Angarano and the traditional dance of Eshu.
We also developed puppets made by Naomi Oppenheim to represent the Deity of Eshu, the red and black trickster, and Ochanla the Deity of Harmony. Through rehearsals with our incredible team of performers Tanisha Addicott, Edie Edmundson, Natnael Dawit and Alecsander Javier Nilsson, we also found a way to represent the Egun – the link between the living and the divine, the messengers between the Deities and humans.
Delving into a contemporary version of the Eshu story ignited a beautiful world of symbolism and energy which explored how, at many points in our lives, we are all at a crossroads trying to decide the right path to take, both physically and metaphorically.
Placing our Crossroad sign outdoors and performing in the open air to such a rich array of people has been even more pleasing than we imagined. We are delighted and perhaps a little surprised at how engaged our audiences have been, even with all the distractions that exist outside.
Our warm up became an outside Salsa class and after the show people would come up to say how they recognised and loved the Yoruba references in the performance. We were moved by how the audience were able to laugh at our character’s dilemmas and yet also feel the power and the presence of more symbolic gestures.
Collaborating with Without Walls has been a wonderful way of creating Theatre-Rites and Miguel’s very first outdoor show. They have supported us to learn what is needed and encouraged us to take our own approach.
It has been a great springboard to enable this show to now tour the outdoor circuit and share its magic with more audiences and we are deeply grateful.
Sue Buckmaster and Miguel Altunaga.
MORE ABOUT SUE BUCKMASTER AND MIGUEL ALTUNAGA
Born in Havana, Cuba, Miguel Altunaga trained at the National School of Art in Havana. After six years with the Cuban National Contemporary Dance Company where he performed as a principal dancer, Altunaga moved to the UK and joined Rambert in 2007.
As a choreographer, Miguel has created work for Tate Modern, the Royal Opera House, National School of Ballet, Cuba, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba and for the bands Simply Red and The Zutons. He created Memoria for Carlos Acosta at the London Coliseum and was commissioned to create Derrumbe for Acosta’s Cubania evening at The Royal Opera House.
Dr Sue Buckmaster is the Artistic Director of Theatre-Rites, a puppetry expert and the fifth generation of theatre practitioners in her family. She is known for her unique puppet whispering technique and her work is celebrated for its use of Animism.
She has directed over 30 international and UK immersive and theatre productions for Theatre-Rites. She is in demand as a dramaturg and mentor and work outside Theatre-Rites includes directing Chotto Desh and Chotto Xenos for the Akram Khan Company.
Sue has an MA in Contemporary Theatre Practice from the University of Essex and in 2021, with Dr Liam Jarvis, she co-authored the book Theatre-Rites Animating Puppets, Objects and Sites.
Image credits: Miguel Altunaga.
