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New Circus
"Showdown" is a fascinating mix of outstanding contemporary circus, absurd satire, spoken word, UK hip hop, grime and Afrobeat.
Image gallery
Upswing | Chamäleon Berlin
Upswing | Chamäleon Berlin
Upswing | Chamäleon Berlin
Upswing | Chamäleon Berlin
Upswing | Chamäleon Berlin
Upswing | Chamäleon Berlin
The play tells the story of seven hopeful acrobats who compete against each other in a casting show satire to be chosen as the "New Face of the Circus".
The audience is invited, guided by a charismatic moderator, to decide for themselves who will receive the coveted prize. As the play progresses, we learn more and more about the individual and shared experiences of the contestants, see connections and conflicts emerge as they gradually begin to question the play....
Powerful, accessible and highly entertaining, Showdown brings narrative contemporary circus to the Chameleon stage.
Outstanding acrobatics become entertaining satire through spoken word elements penned by rising comedy star Athena Kugblenu, accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack of UK hip hop, grime and Afrobeat by London musician Afrikan Boy.
Showdown
Acrobatics, storytelling, comedy and social commentary are at the heart of "Showdown", the new production from British company "Upswing", which presents a fresh perspective on contemporary circus at the Chameleon. The piece asks the question of how fair a competition can be if the organizers are primarily interested in their own profits.
“Showdown” will not only surprise the audience in February 2024 with complex questions, but will also captivate them, make them laugh and encourage them to explore new perspectives.
It specifically brings perspectives of color to the Chameleon stage and questions the promises and initiatives regarding diversity and equality in society. The production offers audiences the opportunity to see things from a different perspective and experience moments of insight and revelation without being didactic.
“Showdown” will be performed at the Chameleon over four months from February 2024 and will be accompanied by a comprehensive outreach program with workshops for artists and various public events.
This is to ensure that the production and the venue itself are accessible to a wide and diverse audience, and to promote artistic diversity.
Upswing, a British acrobatics and entertainment company, artistically promotes certain values.
Its artistic director, Vicki Dela Amedume, explains: "We are expanding the possibilities that the circus has as an art form; pushing the boundaries of what it can be; using it to shape the world we want to live in." T
his attitude makes Upswing the ideal partner for the Chameleon, who produces “Showdown” together with them.
Chameleon director Anke Politz praises Vicki Dela Amedume as one of the most driving and important circus artists of today and emphasizes that her work offers a unique fusion of first-class circus technology, storytelling, other genres and social consciousness.
Upswing, founded in the UK in 2006 by Vicki Dela Amedume, brings together highly talented acrobats from diverse backgrounds and sees diversity as a source of creative inspiration. They use the human body as an expressive tool to entertain people, share ideas and create connections. Amedume was awarded the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022.
Additional information
- Previews: February 22 – March 13, 2024
- Premiere: March 14, 2024
- Playing time: February 22nd – July 28th, 2024
Dates
July 2024
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