Griot/MC Call-Out: Become an Ancient Futures Afrinaut Leader

We’re looking for performers/storytellers with experience of MCing to join our mid-scale outdoor commission ANCIENT FUTURES, an Unlimited Theatre & Upswing Co-Production.

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. This role is for a person of any gender identity.

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.

At the centre of the event is our Afrinaut leader (a Griot, MC and storyteller) who leads our ritualistic dance party from their place at the top of a giant sound system structure, inviting the audience to join them and build a better, safer, more inspiring future than we might otherwise be heading towards.

The Griot will be delivering and improvising with the words written by our writer Oneness Sankara and our musical collaborator Afrikan Boy.

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.

• Lead our ritualistic dance party from the top of a giant sound system structure, inviting the audience to join and contribute to a collaborative future.
• Deliver and improvise with words written by Oneness Sankara and our musical collaborator Afrikan Boy.
• Collaborate with the writer and musicians to develop the story-world and performance material.

We are particularly seeking artists who identify as Black or from a Global Majority background. The role is open to any gender identity.

1. We’ve put all the key information, production dates and instructions into a Griot/MC Call-Out Pack, so the first step is to read/listen to this – various formats available:
2. PDF / Large Print PDF / Audio Description

Deadline to apply: 6pm, Monday 19th 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 21 September 2022. The casting workshop will be held on Tuesday 27 September in London.

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

Image credit: XR Circus Brighton University