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This project successfully funded on 10th June 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
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This project successfully funded on 10th June 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Help Circus Zambia become the first Zambian company to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026 with our show Afronauts. A true Zambian Story.
Help Us Bring Circus Zambia to the Edinburgh Fringe (other Irish news to come).
This summer, we have the chance to do something no Zambian performing company has ever done before — perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world.
For us at Circus Zambia, this is more than a performance.
It is an opportunity to step onto the international stage, open doors for future tours, and move one step closer to a sustainable future for young circus artists in Zambia.
But first, we need to get there.
We are a youth-led circus company based in Lusaka, working with thousands of young people every week. What began as a small grassroots community project has grown into one of Zambia’s most exciting cultural organisations — creating world-class circus while providing young people with opportunity, discipline and creative expression.
Together with Wake The Beast, we have been invited to bring our show Afronauts to Edinburgh. We have also been invited to perform Afronauts in Ireland and England.
The show tells the remarkable true story of Zambia’s bold attempt to join the space race in 1964. Through breathtaking acrobatics, theatre and music, Afronauts celebrates the imagination, courage and optimism of a newly independent Zambia.
The story has already captured international attention. A separate theatrical project inspired by the Afronauts story is currently in development at the Royal Court Theatre in London.
We think that’s fantastic.
But if this story is going to travel the world, it feels right that the Zambian version arrives first.
After all, the story belongs to Zambia — and if there’s one race Zambia deserves to win, surely it’s this one.
Performing at the Edinburgh Fringe could be a turning point for us. The festival brings together thousands of producers, programmers and venue bookers from around the world, making it one of the most important gateways to international touring.
For a Zambian circus company, opportunities like this are rare.
Getting there could open doors not just for us, but for many more young circus artists who dream of building sustainable careers in the arts.
However, bringing a company of artists from Zambia to Scotland, Ireland and England is expensive.
We need to raise £20,000 to cover flights, visas, accommodation and production costs.
Your support will help fund:
• International travel for our performers
• Accommodation during the tour
• Technical and production costs
• Visa and travel documentation
• Ensuring our artists are fairly supported while representing Zambia on the world stage
This is about more than one festival.
It is about creating opportunities, visibility and a sustainable future for Zambian circus artists.
If everyone reading this contributes what they can — whether £10, £25 or £100 — we can make this historic moment possible together.
Donate today and help us bring Afronauts to the Edinburgh Fringe. We are performing at the Udderbelly (for Underbelly) every day at venue 300 at 13:55.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made