GDIF 2024 | London’s free, annual outdoor performing arts festival 23 August-8 September 2024
ANCIENT FUTURES
27 & 28 August | 2pm & 6.30pm | The Moorings, Thamesmead
Duration: 45min
What to Expect: Dance | Family friendly | Participate
Free
The Afrinauts, a crew of curious visitors from another world, touch down in Thamesmead, inviting audiences to join a spectacular dance party combining circus, storytelling and sound system culture.
Featuring new music by grime artist Afrikan Boy and created in collaboration with Quantum poet Oneness Sankara, this ritual celebration combines West African folklore, fantasy and science fiction, to imagine inspiring and inclusive futures.
This event took place at Greenwich+Docklands International Festival 2023 and has passed.
More information on Ancient Futures
Site Access
Ancient Futures is free to attend. Just show up.
Assistance Dogs Welcome
Level Access
The cycle path that runs via the river from the Moorings Centre provides and level, step-free route to the starting location.
There will be short ramps onto any raised areas.
Access Viewing Areas
An accessible priority area for disabled audiences will be marked with a sign or flag. Space for wheelchair users and various seating options will be available.
The viewing area will have volunteers and staff available throughout the event if you have any questions.
This will be the meeting point for the touch tour, live audio description, captioning and BSL.
Accessible Toilets
In The Moorings Community Centre.
Blue badge parking
Street Parking is available on Applegarth Road, Booth Close and Titmuss Avenue.
Drop-off point
Applegarth Road, SE28 8LQ
Contact
For Access questions, contact [email protected] // 07899 893 935
For other audience questions, contact our Box Office: [email protected]
Show Access
BSL Interpreted performance Monday 28th August6.30pm
Captioned Performance Monday 28th August 6.30pm captioned via The Difference Engine App
Please bring your phone and charging pack if you may need to charge.
Live audio described performance Monday 28th August – join us for pre-show touch tour 6pm
Sensory Information: Loud music, haze and scent
Easy Read Visual Guide

Dance of Hope | Chris Fonseca ft Afrikan Boy
This deaf-led and artist-led short film is Chris’ creative response to the themes of Ancient Futures, set to the grime sounds of Afrikan Boy.
About Upswing & Unlimited Theatre
Upswing is a multi-award-winning UK-based contemporary circus company. Founded by Vicki Dela Amedume in 2006 who use the human body as an expressive tool to entertain, inspire curiosity, share urgent ideas and ignite a desire to build connection.
Unlimited Theatre is a company of artists and producers working internationally to create live shows, events and installations for festivals, theatres, museums, public spaces, on the internet and for broadcast. Unlimited’s mission is to inspire people to join us in helping to change the world for the better.
Supported by
Ancient Futures at GDIF 2023 is supported by Peabody and Without Walls.
Ancient Futures has been supported by Without Walls and commissioned by LEEDS 2023; Greenwich and Docklands International Festival; Brighton Festival; Stockton International Riverside Festival. Also supported by Coventry City Council and Coventry City of Culture Trust. Co-commissioned by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for BD:Festival. Creation supported by 101 Outdoor Arts. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England. R&D supported by a Blueprint R&D Investment Fund.
Where to find it
The Moorings, Thamesmead