Bring On The Bollywood, a major new nationwide tour celebrating the colour and magic of Bollywood, arrives in the region this summer

CREATED by Samir Bhamra, the master of authentic Bollywood inspired work, Bring On The Bollywood is a brand new Bollywood dance-theatre extravaganza. Bringing A festival of colour and Bollywood magic in a major new nationwide tour, Bring On The Bollywood brings audiences new and old together for this delightfully romantic riot of Anglo-Indian exuberance.

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.

Inspired by classic Indian cinema, Bring On The Bollywood also revels in the shared dramatic heritage between the UK and India, as well as contemporary British Asian influences.

Samir Bhamra says: “Bollywood is widely perceived to be a low-brow art-form that requires no skill. Not only is it - in my experience - the hardest art form to crack, but it shares more than people realise with the classical Western arts. Bollywood would not exist if it were not for Shakespeare being presented in British India, and soon adapted into local languages for the wider communities. Both traditions teach us valuable lessons about people and life, and that's why they continue to connect so well.”

Bring On the Bollywood is directed by Artistic Director of Phizzical, 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 and was seconded to the Royal Shakespeare Company working the World Shakespeare Festival. He is a controversial judge on Just Bollywood, the UK’s leading inter-University dance competition since its inception three years ago.

  • Bring On The Bollywood, York Theatre Royal, July 11-15. Evening 7.30pm; Matinee Thu 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets £28 - £14. Box office 01904 623568 or http://yorktheatreroyal.co.uk