Kalabanté Productions: Afrique en Cirque at Aviva Studios

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Kalabante Productions: Afrique en Cirque

Aviva Studios, Manchester
11-15 November 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Kalabanté Productions: Afrique en Cirque at Aviva Studios
Image courtesy of Peter Graham.
Book now

Expect high-flying acrobatics, colourful rhythms and innovative choreography when Kalabanté Productions bring their thrilling circus performance Afrique en Cirque to Aviva Studios for four spectacular shows.

This captivating show is being performed as part of The Welcome, a huge nine-day celebration to mark the opening of Manchester’s phenomenal new arts space, Aviva Studios, home of Factory International.

Afrique en Cirque at Aviva Studios
Image courtesy of Peter Graham/ Kalabanté Productions.

A wonderful high-octane fusion of circus arts and traditional African arts.

Founded by multidisciplinary artist Yamoussa Bangoura, Kalabanté Productions celebrate African culture, youth, joy and the diaspora. For four nights only, they roll into town ready to transport you to another continent with Afrique en Cirque – a multi-sensory extravaganza inspired by daily life in Guinea.

Bringing a wonderful high-octane fusion of circus arts and traditional African arts, Kalabanté Productions are set to captivate Manchester audiences. Get lost in colourful costumes and scenery, as daring acrobats perform gravity-defying moves and dancers take you on a journey through Guinea – all set to the sound of live Afrojazz and traditional West African instruments, from percussion to kora.

Afrique en Cirque invites all ages to experience the boundless and expressive creativity of African culture.

The family-friendly show was a huge hit at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival too. Garnering a string of brilliant reviews, Afrique en Cirque received five stars from Time Out and The Skinny and was praised as an explosion of “exuberant movement and music” by The Stage.

Seamlessly melding exceptional storytelling, awe-inspiring circus art, dance and music, the performance is a vibrant celebration of contemporary African life. More importantly, this powerful and highly entertaining show is the perfect example of the universality of art’s language. Recommended for ages 5+, Afrique en Cirque invites all ages to experience the boundless and expressive creativity of African culture.

What's on at Aviva Studios

FLIGHT at Aviva Studios
TheatreCity Centre
FLIGHT at Aviva Studios

Happening in absolute darkness inside a 40ft shipping container, FLIGHT invites you to board a commercial airliner – and take two possible journeys.

From £10.00

Where to go near Kalabanté Productions: Afrique en Cirque at Aviva Studios

Castlefield
Event venue
Old Granada Studios

Manchester’s old Granada Studios is an iconic piece of the city’s history and home to Sidney Bernstein’s television empire.

Manchester Opera House by Phil Tragen
City Centre
Theatre
Manchester Opera House

A commercial touring theatre, the Manchester Opera House is reopening in August 2021, all set to host the city’s finest mainstream theatrical productions, music gigs, opera and ballet.

City Centre
Music venue
Low Four Studio

Old Granada Studios has announced Low Four: a new studio and music project that will stream and archive live music performance as part of a new generation of music TV programming. The inclusion of a viewing balcony also means that these recordings, along with special events and concerts, will be made open to a few […]

Manchester
Restaurant
20 Stories

High-end restaurant and cocktail bar, with stunning views of the Manchester skyline.

Manchester
Gallery
Smolensky Gallery

This appointment-only gallery is a hidden gem in Manchester. Art lovers and collectors can browse many high quality pieces.

What's on: Dance

Summer at Aviva Studios
Until
ActivityManchester
Summer at Aviva Studios

From global dance and live music to storytelling, skateboarding and football, get ready for a dream summer on the banks of the River Irwell.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North.
Theatre in the North

From outdoor shows to drama in the dark, our theatre guide celebrates genre-pushing work, new writing and contemporary performance.

Author portrait
Literature Events in the North

Our latest round-up features plenty of one-off live literature events to wrap your ears about, so get those diaries ticking over...

Two women stand next to an orange car.
Cinema in the North

August brings a huge LGBTQ+ film festival, plus a reggae classic and a spotlight on Japanese animation.

Blondshell by Hannah Bon.
Music in the North

From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.