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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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