New staging of Britain’s Got Bhangra will tour from September

The 2011 company of Britain’s Got Bhangra. The show begins a new tour at Manchester Palace Theatre in September. Picture: David Fisher

After acclaimed runs in 2010 and 2011, the musical Britain’s Got Bhangra will return for a UK tour this autumn in a brand new production, opening at Manchester Palace Theatre on Thursday 3 September, with a press night on Monday 7 September.

Charting the rise of British Bhangra from the sequin-clad 1980s through to the RnB fusion in today’s charts, Britain’s Got Bhangra follows Twinkle, a farmer’s son from Punjab, India who comes to England to make a better living for himself and his wife. A gifted singer, he goes from making a living as a van driver in Southall to becoming a rising star in the fast-growing Bhangra music scene. Winner of the ‘People’s Favourite Musical’ at the 2010 Offie Awards, this imaginative musical takes a journey though multicultural Britain and the evolution of a music scene.

Britain’s Got Bhangra is written and directed by Pravesh Kumar of award-winning British Asian Theatre Company Rifco Arts. Rifco’s other productions include The Deranged Marriage, Happy Birthday Sunita and Break the Floorboards.

Britain’s Got Bhangra is produced by Sell a Door Theatre Company. Formed in 2007, Sell a Door creates touring productions aimed at engaging young adults in live theatre. Current productions include the UK tours of Avenue Q, The History Boys and Jekyll and Hyde.

Britain’s Got Bhangra has music and Bhangra direction by Sumeet Chopra. English lyrics are by Dougal Irvine with Punjabi lyrics by Bittu Denowalia. The musical is produced by Sell a Door Theatre Company, and was originally co-produced by Rifco Arts and Theatre Royal Stratford East in association with Warwick Arts Centre.

David Hutchinson from Sell a Door Theatre said today: “We are delighted to be opening our autumn season at Manchester Palace Theatre with this critically acclaimed smash hit musical. The writers have created a fantastic celebration of dance and culture within the modern narrative of a talented artist aspiring to fulfil their dreams. In the reality TV age, his story taps into the aspirations of so many, against the colourful backdrop of the British Asian community. We look forward to reaching out to new and returning audiences across the UK with Britain’s Got Bhangra.”

Casting to be announced.

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