SIX ACROBATS. ONE WINNER. WHO WILL BE THE “NEW FACE OF CIRCUS”?
Get ready for Showdown! This high-energy spectacle 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
★★★★ “Astounding acrobatics with emotional depth” The Stage
★★★★★ “A spectacular experience” The Live Review
★★★★★ “Wonder and Joy” West End Best Friend
★★★★★ “A thrilling mix of theatre and circus” A Young(ish) Perspective
Tickets
Showdown will be touring UK festivals and venues in 2025, see dates and ticket links below:
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. 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.
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:
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
Showdown Marketing Pack 2025
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)
The Upswing team: Camille Ben Soussan – Executive Director, Celine McKillion – Senior Producer, Kate Parry – Producer, Sascha Goslin – General Manager, Bridie Tyler – 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
Photos by Andy Phillipson and Dan Martin
Previous touring: the Albany, New Vic Theatre