Classical Indian music festival features finest live performers

LIVE PERFORMANCE

DARBAR FESTIVAL 2022

When: Until Sunday October 16

Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

What: The annual classical Indian music festival featuring the finest live performers. This year’s line-up includes Shubha Mudgal, Sabir Khan, Ramana Balachandran, Satyajit Talwalkar, Wahane Sisters, Pandit Uday Bhawalkar, Eeshar Singh, Yashwant Vaishnav, Bha­rathi Prathap and Rajrupa Chowdury.

www.barbican.org.uk

TERE MERE MILAN KI YEH RAINA

When: Sunday October 16

Where: Salvatorian College, High Road, Harrow HA3 5DY

What: Singer Vibhuti Shah, accompanied by a live band, and talented singer Digvijay Jhala, will perform the greatest hits of legendary Bollywood composers SD Burman and RD Burman.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

SAMSARA

When: Monday October 17 – Tuesday October 18

Where: Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN

What: British-Indian dancer Aakash Odedra and Chinese dancer Hu Shenyuan team up for this moving dance duet, inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

www.curveonline.co.uk

THE BOLLYWOOD BRASS BAND

When: Saturday October 22

Where: Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, London SE3 9RQ

What: The legendary Bollywood brass band continue their UK tour to celebrate 30 years of performing film songs in a unique way. Check the website for further dates.

www.bollywoodbrassband.co.uk

BOTOWN: THE SOUL OF BOLLYWOOD

When: Sunday October 23

Where: The Glee Club, 11 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3AB

What: The Bollywood band of multi-cultural musicians perform classic Hindi film music with a groovy and unique soul funk twist.

www.eventbrite.com

BHAJANS WITH BHAVIK LIVE RELOADED

When: Friday October 28

Where: Elliot Hall in Harrow Arts Centre, 171 Uxbridge Road, Middlesex HA5 4EA

What: Acclaimed singer Bhavik Haria headlines a unique acoustic bhajan concert taking audiences on a soulful and immersive journey, blending heritage with eclectic sounds.

www.harrowarts.com

THE REWIND TOUR – UDIT NARAYAN, ALKA YAGNIK, KUMAR SANU

When: Friday October 28; Saturday October 29; and Sunday October 30

Where: Utilita Arena, King Edwards Road, Birmingham B1 2AA; and First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY; and OVO Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA

What: The legendary Bollywood singers return to the UK with a full live band and will perform their greatest hits.

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

THEATRE

LIFE OF PI

When: Until Sunday January 15, 2023

Where: Wyndham’s Theatre, 32-36 Ch­aring Cross Road, London WC2H 0DA

What: Theatre play based on Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, which revolves around the sole human survivor of a shipwreck stuck on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger, as they battle to survive an epic voyage across the ocean.

www.lifeofpionstage.com

THE P WORD

When: Until Saturday October 22

Where: Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 8LJ

What: Waleed Akhtar’s sharp-witted and devastating new play charts the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men, as it moves through casual hook-ups to the UK’s hostile environment.

www.bushtheatre.co.uk

GLITTERBALL

When: Until Saturday October 15

Where: Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street, Oldham, OL1 3SW

What: The new play from acclaimed British Asian theatre company Rifco is a musical comedy revolving around a divorced middle-aged woman navigating rocky friendships, who is trying to make sense of a past – where she was brought up as one half of a Shirley

Bassey tribute act.

www.riversidestudios.co.uk

BROWN BOYS SWIM

When: Until Saturday October 15

Where: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE

What: Comedy drama about two young British Asians preparing for a pool party by learning how to swim, which examines the pressures faced by young Muslim men.

www.sohotheatre.com

TARTUFFE

When: Friday October 14 – Saturday November 5

Where: Birmingham Repertory Theatre, 6 Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2EP

What: BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning writers Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto reimagine the classic comedy in a contemporary British Asian setting.

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

COMEDY

ARABS VS ASIANS

When: Saturday October 15

Where: The Arts Centre, First Floor, Treaty Centre, High Street, Hounslow TW3 1ES

What: Comedy show hosted by Salman Malik, which features stand-up talents Muhsin Yesilada, Fathiya Saleh, Mani Liaqat and Preet Singh.

www.ticketsource.co.uk

DESI CENTRAL COMEDY SHOW

When: Tuesday October 18

Where: The Wardrobe, 6 St Peter’s Square, Leeds LS9 8AH

What: Stand-up show featuring Tommy Sandhu, Kane Brown, Firuz Ozari and Eshaan Akbar.

www.luventertainment.co.uk

PAUL CHOWDHRY – FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMEDIAN

When: Wednesday October 19 – Thursday October 20

Where: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ

What: The acclaimed funny man resumes his new stand-up tour, with rescheduled dates. He dissects diverse topics that include UK’s handling of the Covid pandemic, fame, and England football fans. Check website for further tour dates.

www. paulchowdhry.com

THE INDIANS ARE COMING

When: Friday October 28

Where: The Core Theatre, Homer Road, Touchwood, Solihull B91 3RG

What: Stand-up comedy show featuring top talents Sukh Ojla, Anuvab Pal, Kai Samra and Raj Poojara.

www.luventertainment.co.uk

CLASSES

FREE BHARATNATYAM CLASSES

When: Wednesdays October 19, 26 and Thursdays October 20, 27

Where: Gamgee House, 2 Darnley Road, Birmingham B16 8TE

What: The Consulate General of India in Birmingham is organising free and weekly dance classes on its premises. Participants need to register beforehand and will be allocated places on a first come first serve basis.

www.eventbrite.com

BOLLYWOOD DANCE CLASS

When: Saturdays October 15, 22, 29

Where: CRATE, 35 Saint James Street, London E17 7FY

What: Bollywood dance class focusing on movement and mindfulness.

www.eventbrite.com

INDIAN VEGETARIAN COOKERY COURSE

When: Saturday October 29

Where: Hounslow, London

What: A trip to the local Indian shop to learn about ingredients will be followed by a practical hands-on cooking course learning how to make a variety of Indian dishes, along with learning how to use spices to add a depth of flavour.

www.cookingwithmonisha.com