Eshu at the Crossroads

by Theatre-Rites and Miguel Altunaga

Dance, Puppetry

An image of a male and female performer on an outdoor stage with their backs to the camera and facing the audience.

A tale of choice, trickery and joy. Join our dancers and puppeteer as they find themselves at an enchanted crossroads. They have a decision to make but don’t know which way to turn – what will help them?

A magical rooster guards the crossroads keeping watch over everything, whilst Eshu the Trickster is ever present, unpredictable and wise with the ability to change a person’s fate at will.

Puppetry experts and renowned children’s theatre company Theatre-Rites are collaborating with the celebrated Afro Cuban choreographer and dancer Miguel Altunaga to create their first ever outdoor production. Eshu At The Crossroads directed by Sue Buckmaster and choreographed by Miguel Altunaga brings the vibrancy of Miguel’s Yoruba culture to life, full of dance, puppetry and music. Join this wonderful family adventure. Suitable for everyone aged 4 plus.

An image of three performers. Two of them are wearing black clothing and masks, and the man in the middle is crouched down on the floor between them wearing a blue patterned shirt.

An image of a masked performer holding a puppet chicken on a wooden signpost.

An image of a female performer to the left of the image facing the camera with her hands up. She is wearing a black and white checked shirt and black trousers. To the right of her are two masked figures dressed in black. They are holding a black and red puppet.

An image of two male dancers. One is wearing a red coat and the other male is dressed in black.

‘Theatre-Rites a company of genuine originality and flair’

The Guardian

“Virtuosic Afro-Cuban choreography and transformational puppetry brought wonder and joy to huge audiences at GDIF’s Greenwich Fair in 2025. Presented at Greenwich Park near the meridian line with the panorama of London stretching out as a backdrop, Eshu’s crossroads brought the global and local together in a miraculous way”

Bradley Hemmings

Artistic Director, GDIF

About Theatre-Rites

Acclaimed nationally and internationally, Theatre-Rites’ touring productions and site responsive works stir the imagination and stimulate thought. Led by Artistic Director, world-renowned puppetry expert Dr Sue Buckmaster, the company specifically promote understanding and enjoyment of ‘object-led’ theatre and celebrate the power of visuals, puppetry and animation by working in genuine collaboration with artists across all artforms. This award-winning company has created over 21 stage productions and 12 site-specific experiences. The company’s work has been commissioned by UK and international venues and festivals including Sadler’s Wells, the Unicorn, the Barbican, Burgtheater Vienna, Schauspielhaus Bochum, and the Ruhrtriennale, Vienna, Salzburg and Manchester International Festivals.

About Miguel Altunaga

Born in Havana, Cuba, Miguel 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.

Funding, commissioning and partner credits:

Eshu at the Crossroads is supported by Without Walls and commissioned by Stockton International Riverside Festival, Birmingham Weekender and Brighton Festival.

Image credits