Rumble in the Jungle Rematch | Dock X, London, September 13 – December 9, 2023
Immersive theatrical experience recreating Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s legendary 1974 fight in Zaire. Written by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu (director of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy) with creative direction by Miguel H Torres (Secret Cinema), the production fused theatre, sport, and technology to transport audiences from intimate dressing rooms to the global stage of one of boxing’s most iconic moments.
takis designed the set that brought 1974 Kinshasa to life in London’s Dock X, creating environments for all the sights, sounds, and festival atmosphere of the fight. The design captured both the pageantry of the event—the Zaire ’74 music festival, the pre-match trash talking, the crowd energy—and the intimate psychological drama between Ali and Foreman. The immersive format demanded flexible staging that could shift between different scales and moods as audiences moved through the experience.
This was Rematch’s second major immersive event, following their recreation of the Borg v McEnroe Wimbledon final. The production demonstrated how sports history can become powerful theatre when design and direction capture not just the event itself but its cultural and emotional resonance.
Creative Team: Writer: Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu | Creative Director: Miguel H Torres | Set Designer: takis | Costume Designer: Jessica Cabassa | Lighting: Matt Daw | Original Music: Femi Temowo