The Show

Music has been banned by the authorities. Dancing, singing and harmonies are forbidden. But in the Bunker of Zion there is colour and joy. Can this celebration of culture, community and difference shatter the outside dystopia?

Traditional Zimbabwean Mbira and Marimba instruments will create joyful, bouncing rhythms and powerful songs. There is a fusion of traditional gumboot and modern breakdance. New stories are being created from shared memories, handed down through generations.

Immerse yourself in the Bunker of Zion - a safe space full of hopeful revolution.

Bunker of Zion premiered at The Old Courts in Wigan and it’s UK tour included The Key Theatre Studio at 7.30pm, Thursday 23 & Friday 24 June 2022. Plus pre- and post show music in the bar with DJ Red Snapper.

Did you see Bunker of Zion? We’d love to hear your thoughts about the show. Please talk to one of our team, comment on social media, or respond on-line here:

BUNKER OF ZION SURVEY LINK

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The Artists

The show is created by John Pfumojena and his company of performers, Meet My Ancestors, with a local Associate Artist bringing in contributions from local people in each location.

John Pfumojena - Lead Artist

John Pfumojena is a Mbira and Marimba musician, actor and composer. His practice is concerned with exploring the ancient art of Mbira music for contemporary audiences, storytelling, and collaboration. He has composed a range of music for multi-award-winning plays including The Jungle at Good Chance Theatre, Doctor Faustus and Volpone for Tangle Theatre Company.

Lee Ashton - Associate Artist (Peterborough)

Lee Ashton is a community musician, creative technologist, and sound artist. He creates works with the community and in environments, helping people to compose music, explore sound and express themselves. As a co-director of Beat This CIC he establishes best working practices and music projects for academy schools, charities and councils across the East of England. He is proudly exhibiting a sound work that is currently on tour with the Zimbabwean ensemble Meet My Ancestor’s production, Bunker Of Zion.

“The show is full of energy, dance and music. Local voices and Zimbabwean culture are fused in a dystopian future to uncover life, colour and beauty.” - Lee Ashton

Community Partners

Workshops with High Heritage, Thomas Deacon Academy and Queen Katharine Academy, will capture local voices and stories that will be incorporated into the show, using technology and live performance.

Bunker of Zion, Wigan, 2022. Behind teh Scenes.

a large circular black stage with audience seated all around it. Three black men are on the stage in brightly coloured traditional African dress performing.

a young Black man wearing colourful clothing inspired by traditional African dress on stage playing a large xylephone.

a young Black man wearing colourful clothing inspired by traditional African dress, on stage enthusiatically playng a large xylephone.

two young Black men on stage wearing colourful clothing inspired by traditional African dress. One of the men is holding the other up horizontally across himself.

two young Black men wearing colourful clothing inspired by traditional African dress, on stage stood holding hands and staring at one another

image of a young Black man wearing colourful clothing inspired by traditonal African dress. He caught mid-clap, smiling.

a group of audience members from the Peterborough show of Bunker of Zion sat on stage with perfromers around them dancing and smiling.

a young Black man, wearing colourful clothing inspired by traditional African dress, on stage holding a drum stick with his arms outstretched, looking purposefully at the audience.

black and white image of a yung Black man wearing clothing inspired by traditional African dress, on stage doing a hand stand

the cast of Bunker of Zion on stage, the iamge focuses on a young Black man qearing colourful clothing inspired by traditonal African dress, who is mid-dance in a horse stance like pose. A female performer behind him sits on stage, smiling and clapp

a large circular black stage with audience seated all around it. Two black men are on the stage in grey jumpesuits and workers helments performing.

a large circular black stage with audience seated all around it. One black man is centre stage in brightly coloured traditional African dress performing.

John Pflumojena’s vision:

“Through this project, we want to engage with a range of ideas and voices, representing the diversity of the communities in your place and celebrating the multitude ways in which song, music and storytelling can resonate with and amplify the voices of communities. We are shaping a work that aims to disrupt convention and focus on the importance of places and communities embracing difference.

Meet My Ancestors draw on Bantu/African multidisciplinary art forms. We are creating a show that is scored by Zimbabwean marimba and mbira music, as well as the use of various language, especially Shona, Ndebele and Yoruba. We want the communities we are touring to, to engage with our culture and to share theirs; contributing their own artistic ideas that will form part of the final performance.

The locally developed elements, led by the Associate Artist in each location, will be integrated into the live performance over a short series of rehearsals in the week the show is performed. It is essential therefore, that the Associate Artist be interested and open to a way of working that embraces improvisation and intuition.”

Bunker of Zion has been commissioned by the Collaborative Touring Network, of which Jumped Up is a commissioning partner.

Artwork - Lomedy Mhako

With thanks to our partners and funders.