Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
After a seven-year break from touring, Katy Perry is strapping on her glitter boots and returning to the global stage with the Lifetimes Tour and trust me, it's going to be worth the wait. Kicking off on April 23, 2025, in Mexico City and wrapping in Madrid on November 11, this 75-date spectacle promises to be Perry’s biggest and most personal tour yet.
Katy Perry returns to the global stage with the much-anticipated Lifetimes Tour
Getty Images
Here’s why you need to be there:
1. A setlist that serves both nostalgia and new bops
70% of the tour will be packed with Perry’s greatest hits; think “Firework,” “Teenage Dream,” “Roar,” and “Dark Horse.” But fans will also get to vibe to her fresh tracks from the new album 143, including the confident anthem “WOMAN’S WORLD” and the dreamy “Lifetimes.” Bonus: There’s a surprise segment where you can vote for deep cuts and B-sides!
A throwback to Perry's electric energy on stage: The Lifetimes Tour promises even more spectacleGetty Images
2. A stage that looks like a sci-fi video game
Imagine a figure-eight stage, two high-energy audience pits, floating platforms, and even a VIP zone called “Club 143” (complete with a bar). Perry calls it a “sci-fi, hopeful video game’’, basically a travelling theme park for pop fans.
From Candyland to neon pyramids: Katy’s iconic stage setups have always pushed the envelopeGetty Images
3. Costumes, glam, and glitter galore
Katy Perry doesn’t just perform right? She performs in style and how! So get ready for a wardrobe that’s equal parts futuristic, whimsical, and iconic. Think candy couture meets intergalactic glam, with costume changes that tell a story of their own.
Katy Perry’s Prismatic World Tour set the bar high—Lifetimes is expected to raise itGetty Images
4. A fan experience like no other
This isn’t just her show, it’s yours too. Perry will be crowdsourcing setlist picks through social media, bringing fan requests to life on stage. From emotional ballads to throwback bangers, every city will get a unique show.
Dramatic entrances and aerial theatrics were a Perry trademark long before LifetimesGetty Images
5. Family-friendly energy with a personal touch
For the first time, Perry’s four-year-old daughter, Daisy, is joining her on tour. With shows starting at 8:30 p.m. and running for a tight 90 minutes, the tour is geared to be high-energy and mindful of families and younger fans.
Katy Perry’s performances have always been a bold mix of theatre, music, and magicGetty Images
6. Rebecca Black is the opening act!
Talk about a full-circle pop moment! Viral icon Rebecca Black will open the shows, setting a fun, nostalgic vibe before Katy hits the stage. Whether you loved “Friday” or secretly still do, this is a brilliant throwback choice.
Katy’s eye for fashion has always lit up the stage from cupcake bras to prism armourGetty Images
7. Every detail is thoughtful including the tickets
Fans in the UK can feel good knowing £1 from every ticket supports the Music Venue Trust, helping grassroots venues thrive. And if you’re going VIP, the Klub 143 package gets you backstage access, exclusive merch, and premium views.
Explosive visuals and glittering pyrotechnics defined Perry’s past toursGetty Images
Final word: You don’t just watch a Katy Perry show, you live it
With its mix of mega-hits, fun visuals, and personal touches, the Lifetimes Tour is a full-blown celebration of everything Katy Perry has built. Whether you’ve been a KatyCat from day one or you’re just in it for the fireworks, this is the tour to catch in 2025.
Don’t miss out grab your ticket and get ready to live your best pop life!
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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