54.60 Africa

We're the Elufowoju jr Ensemble, a theatre company dedicated to representing Africa on stage. We need to raise funds for our forthcoming production of 54.60 Africa at London's Arcola theatre.

54.60 Africa is created by Femi Elufowoju jr and is based on his travels to every one of Africa's (then) 54 countries which he achieved by the time of his 60th birthday.

The play is a kaleidoscope of pan-African interactions. It's packed with incident, encounter, humour, terror, revelation and endless human connection. It's full of music, movement and dance.

We are fundraising particularly to support the music in the show. We have massive ambitions to create a soundscape that reflects something of Africa and we have recruited top artists led by MD Emmanuel Edwards and featuring popular Ugandan group The Ganda Boys (who'll be live on stage at each performance).

The Arcola are standing behind the production and we are deeply grateful to them. They are taking a big financial risk on a new piece of theatre which requires a big team. But we still lack the funds to get the show onto the stage in the form that we know will make the highest impact.

This is a career-capping, passion project for our Artistic Director, Femi Elufowoju jr OBE. It's rare for a play to try to traverse so many countries and regions of the mighty African continent. Support us to be part of something rare on the British stage.

At least 95% of what we can raise will go straight into the music budget for the show (the remainder into campaign overheads). Rehearsals have started and soon decisions have to be made which could limit the scope of our score.

Please support us.

More information about the production and all that we have done to research and develop and share it is available at our website. If you'd contact us directly about the production or this appeal please use the form on the website.

Tickets for the show are available from the Arcola website .