AFRONAUTS - Circus Zambia & Wake The Beast.
Theatre/Circus/Festival
date. Touring (Europe/Africa Tour) 2026
tour dates Europe.
Latitude Festival, Suffolk 24th & 25th July
V&A Museum Kensington, London 26th July
Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire 1st August
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Underbelly 6th - 31st August
Everyman & Playhouse, Liverpool 4th September
The Playhouse, Derry 5th & 6th September
Co-production with Circus Zambia
Based on true events.
An all-ages, high-flying collision of circus, theatre, and space adventure.
It’s 1964. The world’s superpowers are locked in the heat of the space race… but they’ve been joined by an unexpected contender — Zambia.
Edward Mukuka Nkoloso, visionary and risk-taker, set out to send Africa’s first astronauts into the cosmos. His crew? A young girl, two cats, and a missionary. His rocket? Aluminium, ambition, and sheer audacity.
Wake The Beast and Circus Zambia launch you into a story of dreamers, daredevils, and impossible possibilities. This astonishing all-ages show bursts to life with breathtaking acrobatics, theatrical spectacle, and irresistible heart.
It’s a true story of hope, courage, and the kind of audacity that might just take you all the way to the moon… or at least make you believe you could.
Following its world premiere in Lusaka, Afronauts is touring the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands in Summer/Autumn 2026 — with performances landing in festivals, theatres, and unexpected spaces along the way.
In the meantime, you can book tickets for the Edinburgh Fringe and support the journey via our crowdfunder.
Written and Directed by Gift Chansa and Adam McGuigan
AFRONAUTS was initially created with Circus Zambia, Barefeet Theatre and Wake The Beast. We recognise the contribution of Barefeet Theatre to the creation of the project. AFRONAUTS is kindly supported by the Irish Embassy, Lusaka, Zambia.
