Sat 17 Feb - Sat 16 Mar
Bhangra Nation is a musical based in the world of competitive Bhangra dancing. The book was written by Rehana Lew Mirza and Mike Lew and the music and lyrics by Sam Willmott. The production is directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Ruj Vaidya.
The show is set in Michigan, USA and follows Mary and Preeti after they clash about what Bhangra really means to them.
The show running times are approximately:
Act 1 - 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Interval - 20 Minutes
Act 2 - 1 Hour
The show is recommended for people aged 12+.
This production features loud noises, haze and flashing lights.
Our new front door is located on Centenary Square, shown here:
Our Box Office
and Foyer
are shown here:
A Chill Out Space is available during the Relaxed Performance in the Cafe Bar behind the wardrobe photo area. It has sensory toys and ear defenders.
A Quiet Room is available during all performances on the first floor. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to use these spaces.
(left) (right)
Tia Antoine Charles
Kyle Evans plays Noah
Iván Fernández González plays Billy
Kuldeep Goswami plays Mohan & Dance Captain
Raimu Itfum plays Varun
Sophie Kandola l N M
Sohm Kapila plays Rekha
Ai Kumar plays Constance
Jena Pandya plays Mary
are Swings
If you are attending any of the relaxed performances the show has been tailored to a 'relaxed' atmosphere. This means that:
Some sound levels will be reduced (including the Dhol, which will will be played lightly).
The houselights will remain on at a low level. Auditorium doors will remain open to allow free flow in or out of the auditorium.
There will be no flashing lights.
No streamers will be released into the audience at the end of the performance.
The haze will be at a low level.
The relaxed performance for Bhangra Nation is on:
Thu 29 Feb at 2.30pm
The show begins with the university Bhangra team, The T.I.G.R.E.S., performing at the East Lansing University State Championship.
An announcer declares that the T.I.G.R.E.S. have made it through to Nationals!
During a rehearsal, Mary and Preeti talk about how to improve the dance. Mary suggests they add in some Kathak (a classical Indian dance form) into their routine.
Preeti dismisses this as a ‘white-girl idea’ that would take away from the authenticity of Punjabi Bhangra. Mary is upset by this and quits the team.
Mary is sad about quitting the team and tells her best friend and roommate, Sunita, about how she feels.
Sunita tells Mary that she shouldn’t listen to Preeti. Sunita suggests that she co-captains a new Bhangra team with Mary. They decide to host auditions.
The auditions don’t go well as the auditionees have little to no experience with Bhangra dancing.
Mary wants to give up but they convince her not to because they are all really hopeful and excited about joining.
Mary agrees to take them all to form a new team.
The T.I.G.R.E.S. are at the Culture Fair trying to recruit new people to replace Mary.
Constance and Gobind, from Mary’s new team, tell Preeti about their new team.
Preeti is upset and says that they are making a mockery of Bhangra.
The setting switches to Mary rehearsing a Kathak dance. Billy (from the auditions), walks in on her practicing. She tells him about how Kathak makes her feel close to her Mom who has passed away.
Mary and Billy are interrupted by the rest of the new team walking in. Sunita tells Mary that their new team can compete in Nationals. Mary is annoyed (but secretly excited). They decide to call their new group the E.L.U. Wood Ducks. Mary decides to enlist a coach.
Mary and Sunita go to the Samosa Hut, a local Indian restaurant, and ask Rekha-ji, an exBollywood dancer and the owner of the Samosa Hut for help.
Rekha-ji agrees to help the Wood Ducks if they work in her restaurant.
Mary and Billy do the washing up together at Rekha-ji’s restaurant. They talk about how they sometimes feel excluded from their communities.
Rekha-ji talks to the Ducks and they realise that she has been secretly training them the whole time! They are interrupted by the T.I.G.R.E.S. who are annoyed that they are competing at Nationals.
There will now be a 20 minute interval.
You can:
Leave your seats to use the bathroom
Buy some refreshments from the café bar
Use our breakout room
Stay in your seats if you prefer
They leave the restaurant and Mary is annoyed with Sunita for upsetting Preeti.
Mary helps Rekha-ji clean up.
Mary visits Billy in his dorm room. They imagine what it would be like if they were in a Bollywood film.
Meanwhile, the T.I.G.R.E.S. are annoyed that Preeti has taken over the team and she is very strict about Bhangra dancing.
Preeti overhears them and she is very upset.
Preeti imagines being with her family in Chandigarh.
Amit and Sunita bump into each other. They talk about how it would be nice if their teams were friends.
Billy and Mary text each other from their dorm rooms.
The Wood Ducks talk to Mary about her feelings.
Mary is confused as she learns different meanings for her ‘Mom-tra’. She finds out that one of the words in it, ‘Kal’, can be interpreted in different ways.
Both teams head to Nationals. Once there, Mary and Preeti see each other and talk about how they feel. They decide to join teams and form a supergroup!
They all perform together and have a great time! There are some streamers released into the audience [this will not happen in the Relaxed Performance on Thu 29 Feb].
The cast dance and sing together before bowing and leaving the stage.
You are welcome to stand up and dance too when they bow!