Full casting has been announced for the brand new Bollywood dance-theatre extravaganza, Bring On The Bollywood. With a dynamic cast of celebrated British Asian performers and young rising stars, the comedic musical of East meets West is set to bring the explosive colour, vibrancy and beauty of classic Bollywood to the British stage.
Bring On The Bollywood is a love letter to traditional Bollywood, innovated for musical theatre aficionados and contemporary Bollywood lovers alike. Reflected in its casting, the fiery heroine Dr. Katrina Pawar will be played by newcomer Nisha Aaliya. Selected from hundreds of auditionees, Nisha Aaliya was discovered in the unlikeliest of circumstances.
Samir Bhamra, director of Bring On The Bollywood, says of Nisha’s casting: “Andrew Lloyd Webber has rightly slammed the lack of diversity in musical theatre but, for me, the lack of opportunities for young British Asian performers goes much deeper. I discovered our perfect heroine, Nisha, by chance when she attended our auditions as a choreographic assistant. By urging her to audition herself, we have unearthed an exceptional acting talent for Bring On The Bollywood. However, like the majority of young South Asian performers, her only outlets for professional showcasing have been the Bollywood dance competitions. Without clearly defined pathways, formal training, and a diversity of roles, such talents can surely only rely on the chance few musicals that focus on Asian culture for a route into the West End.”
Joining Nisha is Avita Jay (Kangna), whose many theatre credits include: Spare (New Diorama Theatre), Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World (Southwark Playhouse, Battersea Arts Centre), Rapunzel (Park Theatre) and Silent Sisters (Hawth Theatre).
Anthony Sahota will play the part of Katrina’s mischievous, betrothed brother, Lucky. Having recently starred as a finalist on Gary Barlow’s Let It Shine (BBC One), Anthony makes his professional acting debut alongside Robby Khela (Ronny).
Robby Khela’s work in music has seen him support pop acts such as Craig David, Blue, Lemar, Girls Aloud and Misteeq on tour. He re-joins Phizzical Productions for Bring On The Bollywood, having previously appeared in their previous national tour of What You Fancy (2007), a Bollywood adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night.
FULL CAST
Nisha Aaliya – KATRINA
Yanick Ghanty – AMIT
Anthony Sahota – LUCKY PAWAR
Avita Jay – KANGNA
Robby Khela – RONNY (and Lyrics)
Rohit Gokani – COLONEL SUNDER PAWAR
Sophie Kandola – REKHA
Sakuntala Ramanee - LALITA PAWAR
Subhash Viman – SHAHRUKH (and Choreography)
Jo Bispham – ENSEMBLE
Mithun Gill – ENSEMBLE
Raheem Mir – ENSEMBLE
Emiko Ishii – ENSEMBLE
Kesha Raithatha – ENSEMBLE
Having lived in London for 14 years, Dr. Katrina Pawar is summoned to her ancestral home, the shabby and un-chic Lakshman Villa, for her younger brother’s wedding. Sensing an opportunity to finally make a match for their last unmarried child during the festivities, Katrina’s parents search for a potential suitor for their quick-witted and resolute daughter. As the good-looking Bollywood film director Amit arrives at Lakshman Villa, along with his newly eligible British personal assistant Ronny, Katrina must navigate the true course of love between East and West.
Phizzical Productions
Phizzical specialises in producing and commissioning classical, contemporary and popular arts influenced by Asian, Arabic and African cultures. It develops new talent, produce and tour new work across all art forms. Recent successes include Ram Lila, an outdoor commission by Leicester City Council for the largest Diwali celebrations outside India, a national tour of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, and singer Navin Kundra's Tribute to Rajesh Khanna the first superstar of Bollywood.
Samir Bhamra – Director
Samir Bhamra, a multi-disciplinary artist and producer. In addition to his role as creative director of the London Asian Film Festival, Samir delivered three large scale performances during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He developed his skills at the National Theatre; he was seconded to the Royal Shakespeare Company working the World Shakespeare Festival. He is a controversial judge on Just Bollywood – the UKs leading inter-University dance competition since its inception three years ago.
Bring On The Bollywood is supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Grant.
Bring On The Bollywood UK 2017 Tour Dates
www.phizzical.com
Saturday 6 – Saturday 13 May Box Office: 024 7655 3055
Coventry, Belgrade Theatre Website: www.belgrade.co.uk
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 May Box Office: 01473 295900
Ipswich, New Wolsey Theatre Website: www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 May Box Office: 020 8174 0090
London, Rose Theatre Kingston Website: www.rosetheatrekingston.org
Wednesday 31 May – Friday 2 June Box Office: 01302 303959
Doncaster, Cast Website: www.castindoncaster.com
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 June Box Office: 01708 443333
Hornchurch, Queens Theatre Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk
Thursday 29 June – Saturday 1 July Box Office: 01202 280000
Poole, Lighthouse Website: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Thursday 6 – Saturday 8 July Box Office: 020 8369 5454
London, artsdepot Website: www.artsdepot.co.uk
Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 July Box Office: 01904 623568
York, Theatre Royal Website: www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Tuesday 18 – Saturday 22 July Box Office: 0161 624 2829
Oldham, Oldham Coliseum Theatre Website: www.coliseum.org.uk
Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 August Box Office: 01872 262466
Cornwall, Hall for Cornwall Website: www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 August Box Office: 01865 305305
Oxford, Oxford Playhouse Website: www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Thursday 24 – Saturday 26 August Box Office: 01733 207239
Peterborough, Vivacity Peterborough Website: www.vivacity-peterborough.com
