With high energy dance, pounding dhol drums and warm-hearted wit, Rifco Arts’ latest offering charts the evolution of bhangra from its roots as a traditional Punjabi harvest dance to a crossover hit music genre in the UK. This new musical follows the rise of Indian migrant Twinkle – played by real life UK Bhangra star Shin – from car mechanic to bhangra sensation, and his subsequent fall into alcoholic, tracksuit wearing obscurity. While in many ways the plot of Britain’s Got Bhangra conforms to the conventions of the music biopic, this is more than just a Punjabi Jersey Boys; writer-director Pravesh Kumar takes the genre and, like the transformation of bhangra, remixes it into ‘something new and fresh’, reflecting on Britain over the last thirty years from a British-Asian perspective and culminating in a powerful celebration of multiculturalism and the connecting power of music.
Shin’s renowned voice merges beautifully with the ensemble cast, who give strong support in a variety of excellently observed roles, but Natasha Jayetileke steals the show in a fierce and funny performance as the ruthless sari shop owner/ record exec Shinde, climbing her way to the top of the industry in six inch heels and stepping on all in her path. The actors play multiple parts, and the fluidity of the gender, race and age swapping all adds to the fun of this show. What it occasionally lacks in emotional depth, it more than makes up for in glorious theatricality, studded with sharp one liners such as ‘BBC one-Asian-at-a-time News’. Although British-Punjabi audiences will pick up on a few more of the jokes, there is something for everyone here; the cultural references fall thick and fast as we travel from bleak 80’s blues and Charles & Diana’s ‘arranged marriage’ through new labour and finally to Will & Kate in ‘blue with a hint of yellow’ modern Britain. The live band – encased in a giant drum – put music at the forefront of the experience, with a brilliantly catchy final number.
While at times only a few slices of paneer away from an all-out cheese-fest, this vibrant celebration of British- Asian fusion is uplifting, funny and far from the blandest thing on the menu of shows you’ll see this year.
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