Bunker of Zion
Presented by John Pfumojena, ARCADE & Collaborative Touring Network.
Devised by John Pfumojena and the Company
FRI 29 JULY 2022
SAT 30 JULY 2022
ST JOHN'S BURLINGTON METHODIST CHURCH, BRIDLINGTON
The first CTN project with ARCADE was Bunker of Zion tour, which brought a joyous and colourful celebration of Zimbabwean culture to Bridlington.
The multi-talented musician, actor and artist John Pfumojena created a unique and energetic performance with impressive acrobatics and breakdance.
Overview
9 participants
5 artists employed
12 free workshops
240 audience members, sold out shows
7 local stories told
20% audiences & participants don't normally experience theatre / outdoor arts
Ethnic Diversity of CTN audience is 4x that of current national average for arts audiences
Almost 50% of CTN audiences live within 30% most deprived parts of the country
Audiences immersed themself in something totally new at the Bunker; a taste of Zimbabwean theatre on Bridlington's doorstep. The artists stories were experienced through live music, dance and songs. There were influences of jazz and hip-hop, and the distinctive sounds of Zimbabwean instruments like the Mbire and Marimba.
ARCADE’s Young Women’s Creative Company worked with the artists to share their individual stories and talents to make this show. Hannah Davies, the associate artist on the project welcomed John and 2 of his team, Kudzanai Chikowe (a dancer) and Tawanda Mapanda (a musician) for the first time in Bridlington - You can read what they got up to in her guest blog post here.
Supported using public funds by Arts Council England.
Credits
Composed by John Pfumojena
Devised by John Pfumojena
with Tawanda Mapanda, Kudzanai Chikowe, Farai Nhakaniso and Niyi Akin
Production:
Lighting Designer: Joe Hornsby
Costume Designer: MYDEI
Touring Stage Manager: Brent Tan
Production Technician: Matt McLenan
Support
The development of Bunker of Zion has been supported using public funding through Arts Council England, and by the following organisations: Battersea Arts Centre, Tangle Theatre Company, Prime Theatre, National Theatre Music Studio, Jerwood Arts, Strike A Light, Genesis Foundation, Hawkwood College. The following artists have informed the creation of the work: Othnell Moyo, Raymond Mupfumira, Biliard Kambona, Takudzwa Mashonganyika, Tawanda Mapanda, Kudzanai Chikowe, Niyi Akin.
Associate Artist for Bridlington
Hannah Davies
Playwright, theatre maker and multi-slam winning spoken word artist, she is Lecturer in Playwriting at the University of York and Artistic Director of Common Ground Theatre.
Hannah is brilliant and supportive, as well as a fierce advocate for women. She worked with the Northern Girls project which ran in Bridlington in October 2021.
Artist
John Pfumojena
John is a Mbira and Marimba musician, actor, and composer.
He has composed a range of music for multi-award-winning plays including The Jungle at Good Chance Theatre, Doctor Faustus and Volpone for Tangle Theatre Company.
Producer
Diana Logan
Theatre practitioner and performer who is passionate about nurturing talent and working with young people. She recently spent 13 years as Associate Director at the Stephen Joseph Theatre where she directed a number of projects with young people in community and formal education settings.
She is passionate about the arts being accessible for all and nurturing talent from all different experiences. She is also Course Leader for the BA hons Acting at CU Scarborough where she trains actors.
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