The Zambezi Express is one of the great steam railway journeys of the world, which threads its way over many days across the mountains, deserts and plains of Africa for thousands of miles. For a boy named Zilli, born in the slums of a mining township in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, it offers hope, escape and a journey to fulfil a footballing dream in the big city. As Zilli battles against the dangers of the city holds and seeks to carve out a future as a football star, he becomes embroiled in a desperate ancestral fight.

This is the tale that underpins Zambezi Express, an extraordinary, pulsating new show which has its roots in the heart of Africa, but which strangely grew to maturity beside a cave complex in the depths of the Somerset hills and debuted at this year’s Glastonbury & Womad festivals.

Zambezi Express is 90 minutes of edge-of-the-seat action from kick off to final whistle, which reaches a triumphant resolution with only seconds to spare. Its wildly dynamic, 30-strong company throws its heart and soul into a dizzyingly high energy succession of jumping, jiving, acrobatic dance numbers to illuminate the show’s narrative.

Looking to see some musical theatre? Find out more about London musicals.