Press Release: Mother Africa: Khayelitsha – My Home, The Peaock, 21 February - 11 March 2017

[Jan McNulty]

Mother Africa

Khayelitsha – My Home
Tuesday 21 February - Saturday 11 March 2017
The Peacock, WC2A

Performances: Tue - Sat at 7.30pm, Sat at 2.30pm and Sun at 2pm and 6pm
Tickets: £15 - £38 (Under 16s half price. Max 2 half price child tickets per full paying adult)
Ticket Office: 020 7863 8222 or www.peacocktheatre.com

 

“An explosion of energy and virtuosity” The Skinny

 

Sensational circus company Circus of the Senses visits London in 2017 to take audiences on a thrilling journey of discovery into Africa’s colourful world with Mother Africa: Khayelitsha – My Home. Featuring acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians from seven African nations, the group blends spectacular circus feats, colourful costumes, glorious singing, infectious rhythms and jaw-dropping dance to bring the pulse of daily life in the South African township of Khayelitsha to the West End. Mother Africa visits The Peacock from Tuesday 21 February - Saturday 11 March 2017. 

 

Two million people call Khayelitsha home, making it the biggest township in South Africa. Despite its poverty and overcrowding, Khayelitsha is a place that is full of hope, vibrant, busy, and buzzing with rhythm and energy. The hustle and bustle in Khayelitsha is the central theme of the show, uniting performances of dance, circus acts, singing and a variety of African music.

 

Mother Africa has been seen by over one million spectators on its tours of Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand over the last six years, and made its UK debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2015. It arrives fresh from its second Broadway run at the New Victory Theatre, New York, having been nominated for ‘Best Show’ in the Drama Desk Awards when it debuted there in 2013, and will be taking up its third residency at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in the USA at the end of its visit to The Peacock.

 

All of the artists in the company trained at the Circus College established in Dar-es-Saalam, Tanzania, in 2005 by Mother Africa director Winston Ruddle. The skills the college offers are taught for free and the most talented students are given the chance to tour the world with Mother Africa, which, for most of them, is a life-changing opportunity.

 

 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Listings information
Mother Africa: Khayelitsha – My Home
Tuesday 21 February - Saturday 11 March 2017
Performances: Tue - Sat at 7.30pm, Sat at 2.30pm and Sun at 2pm and 6pm
Tickets: £15 - £38 (Under 16s half price. Max 2 half price child tickets per full paying adult)
Ticket Office: 020 7863 8222 or www.peacocktheatre.com

 

Production credits

Created by Winston Ruddle and Hubert Schober
Producer: Hubert Schober for FKP Scorpio Konzertproduktonen GmbH, Germany
Booking Agent: Nova Touring International – Eli Casanova
Direction: Winston Ruddle
Co-Director: Ulrich Thon
Dance Choreography: Simon Nene, Clive Madlala and Noluyanda Mqualwana
Live music: InAfrika Band, Zanzibar

 

ABOUT SADLER’S WELLS 
Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance house, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the best international and UK dance to London and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding, the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.

 

Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 100 new dance works to the stage and its award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour internationally. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies, an Associate Company and two International Associate Companies. It also nurtures the next generation of talent through its New Wave Associates and Summer University programmes, its Wild Card initiative and hosting of the National Youth Dance Company.

 

Located in Islington, north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells.

Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England.