Before the June 2025 full production, 54.60 Africa was extensively trialled through a process which began amidst the Covid pandemic. We worked with a range of brilliant partners on our initial R&D journey: Omnibus Theatre Clapham (our main base); Hackney Showroom and Bernie Grant Arts Centre. At each we presented public performances and learned from our interactions with audiences. We’re so grateful to all those partners and to Arts Council England for their support.
During one of our residencies at Omnibus Theatre the R&D team were presented to the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during a royal visit to Clapham to support local businesses after the end of a Covid-19 ‘lockdown’.
A record of our 2021 rehearsed readings R&D tour follows below.
In the summer of 2023 we were privileged to receive support from the National Theatre’s Generate Programme which enabled further development of the play and its music, in particular, through a residency at the National Theatre Studio.
The 2021 R&D Tour
22 – 26 October 2021
Omnibus Clapham – Bernie Grant Arts Centre – Hackney Showroom
Our year-long R&D for 54.60 Africa culminated in a series of rehearsed readings across London.
Ten childhood pals reunite to celebrate their friendship. They pledge to visit, between them, all 54 countries in the continent of Africa.
Seven years later they meet again with life-changing adventures to share.
This 60 minute script in hand R&D presentation is a collection of exhilarating, heart stopping cross-cultural pan-African encounters told through story, song, music and dance.
54.60 Africa is written and directed by Femi Elufowoju, jr, produced by Thomas Kell and conceived by the Elufowoju jr Ensemble in partnership with Omnibus Theatre Clapham, Bernie Grants Arts Centre and Hackney Showroom.
Dates
22-24 October 2021: Omnibus Theatre
25 October 2021: Bernie Grant Arts Centre
26 October: Hackney Showroom
The Ensemble
Prisca Bakare
André Bright
Munashe Chirisa
Heather Craney
Kemi Durosinmi
Ayo-Dele Edwards
Emmanuel Edwards
Femi Elufowoju jr
Shanu Hazzan-Elufowoju
Lánre Njoku
Sabrina Richmond
Hemi Yeroham
