Exhilarating New Musical Showing at Riverside Studios
The Zambezi Express is one of the great steam railway journeys of the world, which threads its way over many days across the mountains, deserts and plains of Africa for thousands of miles. For a boy named Zilli, born in the slums of a mining township in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, it offers hope, escape, and a journey to fulfil a footballing dream in the big city.
This is the tale that underpins ZAMBEZI EXPRESS, an extraordinary, pulsating new show which has its roots in the heart of Africa, which strangely grew to maturity beside a cave complex in the depths of the Somerset hills, and which now heads out on a regional tour before arriving at the Riverside Studios in London on 4th September 2009.
ZAMBEZI EXPRESS is a musical, but not as we know it. Pounding, multi-layered African beats and powerful acapella vocals, a wildly dynamic, 30-strong company which throws heart and soul into a dizzyingly high energy succession of jumping, jiving, acrobatic dance numbers to illuminate Zilli’s amazing narrative. As Zilli battles against the dangers of the big city, and seeks to carve out a future as a football star, he becomes embroiled in a desperate ancestral fight. It’s 90 minutes of edge-of-the-seat action from kick off to final whistle, which reaches a triumphant resolution with only seconds to spare.
The story of the show’s genesis has as many dramatic twists and turns as the Zambezi Express’ journey itself. It all began when Gerry Cottle (ex-international circus entrepreneur, and owner of Wookey Hole) saw the globally renowned African drumming and dancing group SIYAYA at WOMAD. Gerry invited SIYAYA director Saimon Phiri to develop a score and lyrics for a new show, suggesting a storyline for a soccer-based musical because of the approaching World Cup in South Africa 2010. Saimon then augmented his 15 strong group with 15 top talents from Makokoba, SIYAYA’s base on a township on the outskirts of Bulawayo. They’d never been out of Zimbabwe.
Further specialist skills were perfected at Gerry’s circus school before Wayne Fowkes (director and choreographer of the incredible French musical theatre show Notre Dame) came on board to create the full-blown spectacular which has emerged as ZAMBEZI EXPRESS: two years in the making; a cast of 30 of Africa’s most amazing singers, dancers and musicians; a blisteringly high-energy, electrically-charged, feel-good event.
This is the stage musical as never conceived before, and this is the beautiful game as it’s never been seen before. No pun intended: this piece of theatrical football is in a league of its own. It really is...The Happiest Show On Earth!
TO WIN TICKETS, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION
What township is Zilli born in?You must be a registered member to enter the competition, and email your answer to editor@chiswickw4.com.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
RIVERSIDE STUDIOS, HAMMERSMITH, Crisp Rd, W6 9RL
Friday 4th September – Saturday 27th September
Tuesday – Friday at 8pm
Saturdays 2pm, 5pm & 8pm (Sat 5 Sept 8pm only)
Sundays 2pm & 5pm (no show 20 Sept)
Tickets £20 (£15 Concession)
Preview £15 (£12 Concessions) 4/5/6 8/9/10 September
Limited number of £10 recession tickets (please quote recession tickets when you book, phone 020 8237 1111, and counter only)
Riverside Box Office (open 12 - 9pm)
0208 237 1111
Also available at www.seetickets.com
For Further Information Please Contact Gerry Cottle Jnr on 07747 70 32 32 or alternatively email gerry@gerrycottle.com
August 27, 2009
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