Performer Call-Out: Become an Ancient Futures Afrinaut

We’re looking for performers with a range of specialisms to join our mid-scale outdoor commission ANCIENT FUTURES
an Unlimited Theatre & Upswing Co-Production

We are looking for Circus performers who can pick up simple choreography as well as highly physical dancers who may be able to learn some basic aerial or circus skills. We are keen to meet people with high level skills in any of the following practices – Chinese Pole, pole dance, Afro-Urban dance styles, Parkour, Cyr wheel, tumbling/acrobatics, aerial rope, aerial hoop and trapeze.

The show will draw from wider research and conversations but also the experiences of the artists and creatives involved, so we are particularly seeking artists who identify as Black or from a Global Majority background. All the roles are for people of any gender identity.

ABOUT ANCIENT FUTURES:
Inspired by West African folklore, Afrofuturism and sound system culture, Ancient Futures will be a high energy performance that fuses dance, circus, music and storytelling. Conceived and directed by Vicki Dela Amedume (Upswing) and J Spooner (Unlimited), Ancient Futures is a durational event for festivals and public spaces that builds, throughout a whole day, to an immersive evening climax.

We are working with writer and ‘quantum poet’ Oneness Sankara to create the story-world and mythologies that underpin our ‘Afrinaut’ culture. New music will be made by renowned Grime and Hip Hop Artist, Afrikan Boy. Ancient Futures will feel somewhere between a sound system clash, a dance party and a launch into an alternative universe. 

We are now looking for 5 performers to embody our community of Afrinauts – a group of visually fabulous strangers who will arrive at each event and, through interactive participatory experiences, lead audiences towards an explosive climax at the end of each day.

While we are specifically looking for company members to join us for Ancient Futures, these sessions are also an opportunity for us to meet new artists for other future projects as well.

HOW TO APPLY:
1. We’ve put all the key information, production dates and instructions into a Performer Call-Out Pack, so the first step is to read/listen to this – various formats available:
PDF / Large Print PDF / Audio Description (link takes you to YouTube)

2. Submit your application using this form: https://unlimitedtheatre.wufoo.com/forms/ancient-futures-performer-application/

3. And then fill in our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (submissions are anonymous): https://unlimitedtheatre.wufoo.com/forms/equal-opportunities-monitoring-form/

Extended deadline to apply: 6pm, Friday 9th September 2022
Depending on the number of applications we receive, our intention is to shortlist and invite successful applicants to a casting workshop by 6pm, Wednesday 14 September 2022. The casting workshop will be held on Tuesday 27 September in London.

We always pay performers above the current ITC/Equity rates.

Unlimited is an actively anti-racist organisation (you can read more about our anti-racist work here), Disability Confident Committed and signed up to the Oil Sponsorship Free commitment.

Image credit: XR Circus Brighton University