The joy and flavour of a henna night

LIVE PERFORMANCE

SEVENS

When: Saturday April 2

Where: The Place, 17 Duke’s Road, London WC1H 9PY

What: An ensemble cast of UK-based Indian classical dancers and musicians share the stage in this triple bill show conceptualised by award-winning Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer Nina Rajarani MBE, which explores the sacred, and sometimes sinful, significance of the number seven.

www.theplace.org.uk

THE HEN-NAH PARTY

When: Saturday April 2

Where: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA

What: Live performances featuring all the joy and flavour of a henna night, without the stress, gender norms, intrusive aunties, and general drama of a wedding. The event includes an open mic.

www.richmix.org.uk

KIRAN SACHDEV

When: Saturday April 9

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

What: The Women In Arts Festival presents a Bollywood led concert headlined by acclaimed singer Kiran Sachdev. She will be accompanied by a full live band of leading musicians.

www.harrowarts.com

ARUN GHOSH

When: Saturday April 9

Where: Derby Museum & Art Gallery, Old Central Library, The Wardwick, Derby DE1 1BS

What: Acclaimed musician plays tracks from his album Seclused In Light.

www.eventbrite.com

SAMPAD ASIAN SPRING 2022

When: Sunday April 10

Where: Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ

What: After a hugely successful digital version of the event in 2021, the celebration of dance diversity returns, featuring styles such as Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Bollywood and raas garba.

www.bmusic.co.uk

KAASH (REVIVAL)

When: Wednesday April 20 – Saturday April 23

Where: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

What: A cast of international performers brings Akram Khan’s celebrated dance work inspired by Hindu Gods, black holes, Indian time cycles, tablas, creation, and destruction back to life.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

GARRY SANDHU

When: Saturday April 23

Where: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE

What: The popular singer returns with a full live band for a Vaisakhi show to perform his greatest hits and brand-new music. Tickets include a meet and greet option.

www.becktheatre.org.uk

THEATRE

LIFE OF PI

When: Until Sunday July 24

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.londontheatre.co.uk

ABIGAIL’S PARTY

When: Until Saturday April 2

Where: Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ

What: A new adaptation of the classic Mike Leigh play directed by Pravesh Kumar set against the backdrop of an evolving Britain of the 1970s. The cast of the comedy about marriage and class includes Goldy Notay.

www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

JUNGLE BOOK REIMAGINED

When: Saturday April 2 – Saturday April 9

Where: Curve Theatre, 60 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB

What: Akram Khan’s new dance-theatre production based on the story of Rudyard Kipling’s much-loved classic, with the journey of Mowgli reinvented through the eyes of a climate refugee. The show includes an original score, 10 international dancers and state-of-the-art animation and visuals.

www.curveonline.co.uk

MRS KAPOOR’S DAUGHTER’S WEDDING (REBOOT)

When: Sunday April 17 and Saturday April 30

Where: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE

What: The acclaimed comedy continues the tour of its reboot and invites audiences into an Asian household preparing for a wedding, but this time with social distancing, Zoom events and adapting to the new normal.

www.becktheatre.org.uk

EXHIBITION

INDIAN SUN: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RAVI SHANKAR ARCHIVE

When: Until Sunday May 15

Where: Archive Studio, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

What: A free exhibition exploring the life and legacy of a global musical icon Pandit Ravi Shankar through the lens of his family archives. The display includes rare archive pieces, film footage and an installation of paper flowers.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

COMEDY

NISH KUMAR - YOUR POWER, YOUR CONTROL

When: Sunday April 3 and Wednesday April 6

Where: The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD; and The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7UA

What: The popular comedian embarks on a brand-new stand-up show that tackles important subjects like political upheaval, Covid, current uncertainty and why he is taking it personally. Check website for further tour dates.

www.nishkumar.co.uk

PAUL CHOWDHRY - FAMILYFRIENDLY COMEDIAN

When: Saturday April 3 and Thursday April 7

Where: Loughborough Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough LE11 3EB; and Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable LU5 4GP

What: The funny man returns with a brand-new stand-up show about UK’s handling of the pandemic, why the rule of six only worked for white people, fame, England football fans and Tom Cruise landing his helicopter in someone’s garden. Check website for further tour dates.

www.paulchowdhry.com

ROMESH RANGANATHAN – THE CYNIC’S MIXTAPE

When: Sunday April 24 – Wednesday April 27

Where: Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB

What: The stand-up comedian delivers a brutally honest laughter-filled show about all the things he finds unacceptable, including why trying to save the environment is a scam and why none of us are truly free.

www.birminghamhippodrome.com

THE MUSLIMS ARE COMING

When: Friday May 6

Where: Camberley Theatre, Knoll Road, Camberley GU15 3SY

What: The halal-arious comedy show to celebrate Ramadan and Eid features top stand-up talents, which include Tez Ilyas and Eshaan Akbar.

www.camberleytheatre.co.uk

CLASSES

BOLLYWOOD DANCE CLASS

When: Saturdays April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

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

What: Learn to perform Bollywood dance in a fun weekly session focusing on movement and mindfulness.

www.eventbrite.com

FREE BHARATNATYAM CLASSES

When: Wednesdays April 6, 13, 20, 27 and Thursdays April 7, 14, 21, 28

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

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

www.eventbrite.com

FULL DAY SIMPLE INDIAN COOKERY COURSE

When: Saturday April 23

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.

www.cookingwithmonisha.com