Understand
How Bollywood and panto merged to create Surinderella show
Overview
The creators of the Desi pantomime Surinderella explain how blending bhangra beats and Bollywood storytelling with the classic Cinderella tale has helped British South Asian audiences see themselves represented on stage. The production, currently touring England, features a cast including Sonya Venugopal, Harpz Kaur, and Andy Kumar, and has attracted both traditional panto fans and new audiences.
Key points
- Surinderella blends bhangra beats, colour, and magic with the classic pantomime story of Cinderella.
- Artistic director Pravesh Kumar noted that the production brings British South Asian stories and actors to the centre stage on English tours.
- The show features Sonya Venugopal as Surinder, Harpz Kaur as Devi Godmother, and Andy Kumar as a stepsister.
- Remaining tour dates include stops at Artsdepot in Barnet and the Theatre Royal Stratford East in London.
- The creators highlight that Bollywood films and traditional pantomimes share similar themes of high drama, camp, song, and dance.