Tomorrow, on 20 October, at 19:00, the Paraninfo of the University of Alicante (UA) will present the circus show Mahmud and not just Mahmud. This production explores, through storytelling, acrobatics, and live music, the real-life journey of a young Senegalese man who leaves his hometown in search of work in a neighbouring country, only to find himself caught in the midst of a civil war.
Part of the UA's Cultural Agenda for Performing Arts and the Circarte Circus Festival, tickets for the performance are available for €5 on the Cultural Services website. According to the producing company, Puntocero Company, the show illustrates how “what was supposed to be a relatively simple journey turns into a nightmare due to the consequences of colonialism, the lack of legal pathways for safe mobility, and the labour exploitation and racism encountered along the way.”
Mahmud and not just Mahmud is an adaptation of the book Partir para contar, by Mahmud Traoré and Bruno Le Dantec, which recounts Traoré's real journey from Dakar to his current residence in Spain, traversing thousands of kilometres marked by war, borders, and the pursuit of a better life through countries such as Mali, Niger, Libya, and Algeria.
Directed by Zenaida Alcalde, the show features a cast of five circus and theatre artists, including actor Thomas King, actress and singer Betiza Bismark, and acrobats Elvis Kyengo Kakiti, Colins Ouna Opiyo, and Joel Bwana Anabaka. Together, they create “a physical language made of aerial acrobatics, lifts, and verticals,” the company adds.
With original live music accompanying the narrative and visual and textual dramaturgy by Silvia Albert Sopale, this physical theatre and documentary circus show, recommended by the Spanish Network of Theatres and nominated for Best Scenography at the 2025 Talía Awards, aims to “share and advocate for the story of Mahmud and many others who share his experience,” according to Puntocero Company.
Puntocero Company, founded in 2007 in Britain by Madrid natives Zenaida Alcalde and Miguel Muñoz, combines theatre, circus, and magic. Since its inception, the company has created six productions that have toured Europe, performing in venues such as Teatro Circo Price, Centro Condeduque, and Sala Roja at Teatros del Canal. Their work focuses on action and visual metaphors through magical or circus techniques and physical theatre. The artists have been part of international companies like Teatre Tattoo (France), Nofit State Circus (Wales), and Cirko Aereo (Helsinki), and have participated in festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival and Circa in Auch. Miguel Muñoz has also received multiple awards, including the Grand World Prize of Magic (FISM).
