Showdown

SIX ACROBATS. ONE WINNER. WHO WILL BE THE “NEW FACE OF CIRCUS”?

Showdown is a high-energy spectacle that combines jaw-dropping circus stunts with razor-sharp humour in a one-of-a-kind competition where the audience is invited to vote for their favourite.

Six fearless contestants push their limits in a no-holds-barred race to the top, all for the promise of a single prize. Showdown playfully unpacks our obsession with winning, asking: What’s worth sacrificing to come out on top? With each round, we dive deeper into the contestants’ drive to succeed, while chaos and surprises keep everyone on their toes.

Watch the trailer:

Packed with audience interaction, clever comedy, and a bold mix of circus, spoken word, UK Hip Hop, Grime, and Afrobeat, Showdown explores the idea of “healthy competition.” Who will you root for to win?

Brought to life by an exceptional team—including Upswing’s Artistic Director Vicki Dela Amedume, rising comedy star Athena Kugblenu, and London-based musician Afrikan Boy—this show is a thrilling mash-up of heart, hilarity, and high-flying talent. Don’t miss it!

Reviews

★★★★★ “A spectacular experience” The Live Review
★★★★ “Astounding acrobatics with emotional depth” The Stage
★★★★★ “Wonder and Joy” West End Best Friend
★★★★★ “A thrilling mix of theatre and circus” A Young(ish) Perspective

Tickets

There are no current tour-dates for Showdown. Join our mailing list to get future dates straight to your inbox.

Showdown opened in February 2024 for its first run at the Chamäleon Theater in Berlin. The UK premiere took place at the Albany in London on 1st May 2025, and toured across multiple venues throughout the UK for 3 months.

If you’re a venue, festival or promoter, we welcome you to join us on this journey. To show your interest in working on this project with us, email info@upswing.org.uk.

A group of acrobats throw someone high into the air on a darkly lit stage

Behind the curtain: Music, Mockumentary and more…

Step backstage into the world of Showdown with exclusive content that shows how it all came together. Listen to the energetic Afrobeats soundtrack that drives our performers and watch the mockumentary that kicked off the story. Get a taste of Showdown before you see the show!

Watch our contestants audition for a place in Showdown in our hilarious mockumentary prequel Common Ground:

Listen to the original Showdown soundtrack by London-based grime artist Afrikan Boy:

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Music

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how we developed the show from the very beginning:

Meet the comedian and grime artist who we created the show with:

Partners, cast & creatives

Created by Upswing

Co-produced by Upswing and Chamäleon Theatre Berlin

Co-Commissioned by: the Albany Deptford, New Vic Theatre, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and the Lowry

Creation

Victoria Dela Amedume – Concept and Direction (She/Her)
Nathan Johnston – Assistant Director
Athena Kugblenu – Writer (www.athenakugblenu.co.uk/) (She/Her)
Olushola Ajose aka Afrikan Boy – Score/composer (www.afrikanboy.com/music) (He/Him) Lulu Tam – Set Designer (She/Her)

Davy String – Costume Designer (He/Him)
Hansjorg Schmidt – Lighting Designer (He/Him)
Kieran Lucas – Sound Designer ( He/Him)
Somin Griffin-Dave AKA Somatic – Associate Sound Designer (He/Him)

Production

Helen Mugridge – Production Manager (She/Her)
Verity Clayton – Company Stage Manager (She/Her)
Scott McMullen – Technical Stage Manager (He/Him)
Jamie Disney – Assistant Stage Manager

The Upswing team: Camille Ben Soussan – Executive Director, Celine McKillion – Senior Producer, Kate Parry – Producer, Anna Duncan – Audience Development Producer, Sascha Goslin – General Manager, Bridie Tyler – Digital Communications

Devised with the cast Members: Shane Hampden (Red), Jaide Annalise (Purple), Rebecca Solomon (Orange), Gracie Hill (Blue), Loris Di Via (Yellow), Kussyl Amara (Green), Rhys Hollis (Host)

Special thanks to Geordie Brookman for dramaturgical support

With thanks to our funders and supporters: Arts Council England, PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund, Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Cockayne Foundation/The London Community Fund, Horizon: Performance Created in England