Ancient Futures

Unlimited Theatre & Upswing

Circus, Aerial, Music/Sound, Theatre

Ancient Futures is an Afrofuturism inspired outdoor spectacular that blends contemporary circus and storytelling with Sound System culture and West African folklore.

Both a headline festival experience and a pop up installation, Ancient Futures fuses dance, circus, parkour, music and storytelling with design inspired by West African masquerade and Afrofuturism.

Conceived and directed by Vicki Dela Amedume (Upswing) and J Spooner (Unlimited) with new music by grime artist Afrikan Boy, Ancient Futures is a durational event for festivals that fuses dance, circus, parkour, music and storytelling.

About Unlimited Theatre and Upswing

UNLIMITED THEATRE is a company of multi-disciplinary artists and producers making new work for live performance that inspires audiences to join them in helping change the world for the better. 

UPSWING is an award-winning contemporary circus company founded in 2006. We use the human body as an expressive tool to entertain, inspire curiosity and ignite a desire to build connection. We tell new stories in extraordinary ways, amplifying and celebrating the skills, creative talents and stories of diverse artists and communities

Funding, commissioning and partner credits:

Ancient Futures is co-produced by Unlimited Theatre and Upswing. Ancient Futures has been supported by Without Walls and commissioned by LEEDS 2023; Greenwich and Docklands International Festival; Brighton Festival and Stockton International Riverside Festival.

Ancient Futures has also been supported by Coventry City Council and Coventry City of Culture Trust. Co-commissioned by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for BD:Festival. Creation supported by 101 Outdoor Arts.

The R&D for Ancient Futures was supported by a Blueprint R&D Investment Fund

[Image credits: Paul Blakemore]