Stratford East will present a vibrant programme of South Asian work this July, bringing together new writing, music, comedy, cabaret and boundary-pushing performance.
Running from 8 to 18 July, the line-up showcases award-winning theatre alongside bold storytelling and celebratory live experiences. The season includes Kanpur: 1857, Blue Mist, Brown Sauce, Say Shava Shava, Qawwali Live: with Hussain Brothers and Heeramandi.
Opening the programme on 8 July is Kanpur: 1857, written by and starring Niall Moorjani and co-directed by and starring Jonathan Oldfield. The Fringe First-winning production returns to London following acclaim in Edinburgh.
On 10 to 14 July, Mohamed-Zain Dada’s Blue Mist arrives at Stratford East, directed by Milli Bhatia. The Olivier Award-nominated play follows an aspiring journalist navigating truth and ambition within his community.
Brown Sauce takes to the stage on 15 July. The legendary comedy club, known for platforming leading Asian comedians, returns with a new line-up yet to be announced.
On 16 July, Say Shava Shava marks 25 years since the release of iconic Bollywood film K3G. The live music and dance celebration pays tribute to the film’s unforgettable soundtrack.
Qawwali Live: with Hussain Brothers follows on 17 July, offering an evening of spiritual and contemporary Qawwali from the ninth-generation Hussain Brothers Qawwali Group.
Closing the programme on 18 July is Heeramandi, a sensory night of British Asian cabaret inspired by the historic courtesans of Lahore. The production blends dance, music, burlesque and comedy.
Martin Willis, Programming Associate at Stratford East, said: ‘I’m delighted to be announcing this mini season, my first for the theatre. The connection of Stratford East to its local South Asian community is a long and storied one, and it’s a joy to contribute to that lineage. The programme is a real range, with theatrical works showcasing both historical struggles (‘Kanpur: 1857’) and current adversity (‘Blue Mist’), traditional narrative dance fused with cabaret (‘Heeramandi’), and all-out bombastic Bollywood joy (‘Say Shava Shava’), there really is something for everybody.’
Listings and ticket information can be found here.Â
