As World Theatre Day approaches on 27 March, the Beck Theatre is excited to share news of its vibrant new programme, celebrating the magic and significance of live performance. After undergoing a period of transition last year, the theatre is now back on track, offering a fantastic lineup that highlights the power of theatre to unite communities and entertain audiences of all ages.
Located in Hayes, London, the Beck Theatre has been a cultural hub for decades, hosting a wide range of live performances, from musicals and plays to comedy and community events. With its commitment to providing diverse entertainment for the local community, the theatre is looking forward to a busy year ahead. In honour of World Theatre Day, the Beck Theatre is proud to announce its exciting 2025 programme, which features a mix of high-profile acts and community-driven events.
The magic of Pantomime: Sleeping Beauty
One of the most eagerly anticipated highlights of the Beck Theatre’s new programme is the pantomime Sleeping Beauty, scheduled for the festive season. Pantomime has long been a staple of British theatre, beloved by families for its humour, audience interaction, and timeless fairy-tale stories. The Beck Theatre’s production of Sleeping Beauty promises to be no exception, offering a festive, fun-filled performance that will appeal to both children and adults alike. With dazzling costumes, catchy songs, and plenty of laughs, the show is set to be a holiday highlight.
Beck Theatre’s new programme is the pantomime Sleeping BeautyBeck Theatre
The return of the pantomime this year is a significant highlight for the Beck Theatre. Pantomime has long been a cherished tradition, and this year’s production of Sleeping Beauty promises to deliver a festive, family-friendly experience. With vibrant performances, dazzling costumes, and plenty of laughter, it’s set to be a perfect opportunity for families to come together and enjoy the magic of live theatre.
Top comedians take the Stage
In addition to its festive offerings, the Beck Theatre has secured performances from two of the UK’s top comedians: Omid Djalili and Paul Chowdhry. Both comedians are known for their witty observational humour and ability to connect with diverse audiences.
Omid DjaliliBeck Theatre
Omid Djalili, a familiar face from television and film, brings his critically acclaimed stand-up show to the Beck Theatre as part of his nationwide tour. His unique style of comedy, blending cultural observations with clever wordplay, has earned him a loyal following. Audiences can expect an evening of laughter as Djalili tackles everything from everyday life to broader societal issues with his trademark humour.
Paul ChowdhryBeck Theatre
Paul Chowdhry, another powerhouse on the UK comedy scene, is also set to perform at the Beck Theatre this year. With his sharp one-liners and satirical take on modern life, Chowdhry’s show promises to be an unforgettable experience for comedy fans. Having sold out arenas across the country, his appearance at the Beck Theatre is sure to be a major draw.
Special performances from Sydnie Christmas and San2 Singh
The Beck Theatre is also excited to present two special one-off performances from talented artists Sydnie Christmas and San2 Singh. Sydnie Christmas, a rising star in the world of cabaret and musical theatre, will bring her unique blend of storytelling and song to the stage. Known for her powerful voice and magnetic stage presence, Christmas’ performance is set to captivate audiences.
San2 SinghBeck Theatre
San2 Singh, a celebrated artist known for his fusion of soulful music with contemporary beats, will also take to the Beck Theatre’s stage for a one-night-only performance. His dynamic style and electrifying stage presence have earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting performers in the UK music scene. Singh’s performance will be a must-see event for music lovers looking to experience something fresh and innovative.
Community events at the Beck Theatre
Beyond its high-profile shows, the Beck Theatre remains deeply committed to engaging with the local community. One of the standout community-driven events in the 2025 programme is the Beck Community Choir’s Songs of Celebration. This uplifting event will showcase the talents of local singers and musicians, offering a heartwarming evening of music and unity. The Beck Community Choir has long been a vital part of the theatre’s outreach efforts, providing a platform for local residents to express themselves through music.
The importance of community events remains central to the Beck Theatre’s mission. The theatre is committed to creating opportunities for the local community to come together and celebrate the arts. Events like the Beck Community Choir’s Songs of Celebration provide a platform for local talent to shine and foster a sense of unity, bringing people from all walks of life together in a shared experience of music and performance.
Celebrating World Theatre Day
As World Theatre Day approaches, the Beck Theatre invites everyone to join in celebrating the vital role that live theatre plays in society. From pantomimes and comedy shows to musical performances and community events, the theatre’s 2025 programme reflects its commitment to delivering quality entertainment and fostering a sense of togetherness.
With a diverse lineup of shows that cater to a wide range of tastes, the Beck Theatre is looking forward to welcoming audiences back for a year of laughter, music, and unforgettable performances. As the curtain rises on a new chapter, the Beck Theatre continues to shine as a beacon of live entertainment in the heart of the community.
The actor’s evolving style from youth to maturity getty images
Aamir Khan embracing vintage looks with classic charmgetty images
Bold and dramatic changes defining Aamir Khan’s careergetty images
From rugged to refined Aamir Khan’s versatile appearancesgetty images
Memorable film moments showcasing Aamir Khan’s unique stylegetty images
Aamir Khan’s blend of classic and contemporary fashiongetty images
Aamir Khan’s dedication to authentic character portrayals getty images
Cinematic milestones reflected in Aamir Khan’s on-screen imagegetty images
A seated Jain enlightened teacherAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Ganesha from JavaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
A Chinese silk painting depicting the BuddhaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
ArdhanarishvaraAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Head of a grimacing yakshaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
NagaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
The Bimaran casketAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Hunia Chawla
A still from rehearsal
Them performing liveNajmuddin Saifuddin Qawwal Group
The cast of Marriage Material in key moments from the play, including Avita Jay, Kiran Landa, Omar Malik, Irfan Shamji and Anoushka Deshmukh
Sathnam Sanghera’s 'Marriage Material' adapted into bold new play on conformity
The play Marriage Material at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s adaptation of Sathnam Sanghera’s novel of the same name, which first came out in 2013.
She is lucky to have Iqbal Khan direct Marriage Material. The play, a co-production with the Birmingham Rep, is set in the late 1960s. Mr and Mrs Bains (played by Jaz Singh Deol and Avita Jay) run a corner shop in Wolverhampton. Their younger daughter, Surinder (Anoushka Deshmukh), is 16, her sister Kamaljit (Kiran Landa) is just a bit older.
They have a neighbour, Patwant Dhanda (Irfan Shamji), who, as we shall soon see, is not a very pleasant man. In fact, he comes across just as racist as Enoch Powell, who represented Wolverhampton South West for the Tories from 1950 to 1974.
It will be recalled this was a time when Sikhs working on the buses were told they couldn’t wear a turban. That was a hard-fought battle that had to be won.
The Bains, meanwhile, simply want to get their girls married off.
Nothing new here, I thought.
What makes the tale different is that the plot twists and turns down the generations. Mr Dhanda, who has the makings of a paedophile, makes a pitch for one of the girls when Mr Bains dies early in the play. “A life with no man in the house is no life,” he informs the newly widowed Mrs Bains.
Mr Dhanda has a wife but she has returned to India so he considers himself to be a free man.
Surinder’s English teacher from school, Miss Flanagan (Celeste Dodwell), who is also head of the fifth form, tells Mrs Bains about her daughter: “I don’t want to embarrass you, but she is bright. Ridiculously bright.”
She adds: “Mrs Bains, I think it would be a pity if Surinder didn’t stay on at school.” The initial response from Mrs Bains is not encouraging: “Too much education makes people’s brains get mixed up, they don’t sleep at night…”
But she is finally persuaded that Surinder should be allowed to stay on for a while longer before being married off.
Mr Bains was very old school. When Surinder confides she would one day like to be “a somebody”, he is amused that “my daughter wants to be a somebody”.
“Like you,” she tells her father.
Mr Bains consoles his daughter: “We will find a somebody for you to marry.”
At the point of a possible marriage, however, Surinder is sweet-talked by chocolate salesman Jim Wilson (Tommy Belshaw) into running away with him. They share a love of literature, and he calls her “Sue Bains”. But the relationship does not end well.
Once she has left, Surinder is written off as “dead” by her family. The story that is circulated is that she was only 16 when she was killed in a car crash. That’s better than to let on that she ran off with a white man.
By the time she is reconciled with her sister towards the end of the play, a great deal has changed. Kamaljit married Tanvir Banga (Omar Malik), a young man who helped out in the Bains’ corner shop. When the two sisters meet again, Tanvir has also died. But he and Kamaljit had a son, Arjan Banga (Jaz Singh Deol doubles up for this role after the death of Mr Bains). He has come home after his father’s death to help his mother who is still running the family corner shop.
Meanwhile, Mr Dhanda’s business has prospered. He now has a son, Ranjit Dhanda (the role is taken by Omar Malik after Tanvir’s death), and he is nearly as unpleasant as his father.
Arjan has an English fiancée, Claire (Celeste Dodwell). In London, Arjan worked as a creative director. But after deciding to stay in Wolverhampton to help his mother, he decides he cannot marry Claire because she is white. In other words, Asians are not free of racism, either. Happily, at the end, the couple are reconciled.
As for Surinder, she parted company with Jim Wilson after realising he was all talk, depended on her for money and had failed to earn a penny from his literary pretensions. She had prospered, though, as a hotel owner and had been transformed in time into a well-groomed businesswoman. After being tracked down by Arjan, she decides to return to her roots in Wolverhampton and help Kamaljit run the family corner shop. Perhaps 50 years had passed during the passage of the play.
Being subjected to racism turned some Asians into racists themselves. The word goreh (white person) is repeatedly spat out with venom. Maybe it is worth remembering the play’s audience isn’t exclusively Asian – white folk are watching as well. And maybe some of the toilet humour ridiculing white people, which always makes me cringe, could be cut out.
In Sanghera’s novel, there is a quote from Enoch Powell’s speech in November 1968: “The West Indian or Asian does not, by being born in England, become an Englishman. In law he becomes a United Kingdom citizen by birth; in fact, he is a west Indian or an Asian still... he will by the very nature of things have lost one country without gaining another, lost one nationality without acquiring a new one. Time is running out against us and them. With the lapse of a generation or so we shall at last have succeeded – to the benefit of nobody – in reproducing ‘in England’s green and pleasant land’ the haunting tragedy of the US.”
In Marriage Material, where the acting is marvellous (apart from Mr Dhanda’s Indian mannerisms and accent being overdone) we do travel across a couple of generations.
There is a scene when Tanvir rejects Mr Dhanda’s vision of creating a little Punjab in Wolverhampton.
Mr Dhanda wants to take over the Bains’ corner shop and is putting pressure on Tanvir to sign the papers. He says: “In this country, money is the path to freedom.”
“Sign, please,” he instructs Tanvir. “We must make sure our children learn to behave nicely, according to our rules.”
He insists: “We maintain our identity so we can be ourselves.”
Tanvir disagrees: “We can be us here. With the goreh.”
Dhanda warns him: “Then we will be inviting chaos.”
Tanvir’s comment is telling: “You sound like Enoch.”
Kamaljit, who is expecting a baby with her husband Tanvir, says: “I would like my child to grow up knowing the history of the Gurus and to read the Granth Sahib. And to love their culture.”
Tanvir tells his wife: “I would like my child to go to the finest schools, to cheer for England in the World Cup and eat Yorkshire pudding on a Sunday.”
Kamaljit sets out a dream that has perhaps come to pass with many third and fourth generation British Asians: “Maybe our child can do both.” Much, much later, in a throwback to the past, we learn of Surinder’s O-level results: “Biology A, Chemistry A, English Language A, English Literature A, French A, History B, Latin A, Mathematics A, Physics A…”
Kamaljit tells her younger sister: “Never mind about the B.”
And that is quintessentially Asian. Their acting is outstanding.
Marriage Material is at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre until June 21, and at the Birmingham Rep from June 25-July 5