What: Bhangra legend Malkit Singh headlines a dinner and dance with his full live band. There will also be musical performances from Panjabi MC and HMC.
www.eventbrite.com
ANIRUDH
When: Friday December 2
Where: OVO Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA
What: The Tamil singing sensation will deliver a concert with a full live band, which mixes up his solo hits and popular film songs.
www.ovoarena.co.uk
APACHE INDIAN AND PANJABI MC
When: Saturday December 3
Where: Fox And Firkin, 316 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6JZ
What: Live music event headlined by British music icons Panjabi MC and Apache Indian, which will be filled with their greatest hits.
www.foxfirkin.com
POOJA ANGRA
When: Sunday December 4
Where: Turner Sims, Building 52, University of Southampton, Salisbury Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ
What: Classical Indian concert headlined by Pooja Angra. She is joined by leading musicians Karan Rana, Mitel Purohit, and Baluji Shrivastav OBE.
www.turnersims.co.uk
NRITHYARCHANA
When: Sunday December 4
Where: The Bhavan, 4A Castletown Road, London W14 9HE
What: An evening of Bharatanatyam dance from students, training under Guru Prakash Yadagudde.
www.bhavan.net
SHAKTHI FT. JYOTSNA SRIKANTH
When: Sunday December 4
Where: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
What: Acclaimed Carnatic violinist Jyotsna Srikanth delivers a classical Indian performance with two talented musicians from Bangalore, which blends in contemporary influences and improvisation.
www.kingsplace.co.uk
PADMAVATI – AN AVATAR
When: Saturday December 10
Where: The Bhavan, 4A Castletown Road, London W14 9HE
What: Renowned artist Bala Devi Chandrashekar presents a dance drama interpretation of an immortal classic from Gita Govindam. This production gives glimpses into the character of Padmavati, the divine consort of Lord Venkateshwara.
www.bhavan.net
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
HAKAWATIS: WOMEN OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
When: Until Sunday January 14
Where: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
What: Fearless new play written by Hannah Khalil and directed by Pooja Ghai, which is a retelling of a classic feminist story featured in One Thousand and One Nights.
www.shakespearesglobe.com
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
When: Until Saturday December 3
Where: Theatre Royal, Saw Close, Bath BA1 1ET
What: Stage adaptation of the best-selling book and hit film about an eclectic group of British retirees embarking on a new life in India continues its UK tour. Check website for tour dates.
www.marigoldshow.com
PARADISE NOW!
When: Friday December 2 – Saturday January 21
Where: Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 8LJ
What: Rakhee Thakrar and Shazia Nicholls are part of a talented cast in the story of six women drawn in by a multi-level marketing scheme, which looks at ambition, exploitation, and connection in a fractured world.
www.bushtheatre.co.uk
JALSA – A LIVE MUSICAL
When: Saturday December 3
Where: The Bhavan, 4A Castletown Road, London W14 9HE
What: Untold and unheard stories of forgotten courtesans and queens of Thumri and other genres of Indian semi-classical music in the early twentieth century, like Gauhar Jaan and Indubala
What: Family pantomime suitable for all ages, which includes slapstick comedy and catchy musical numbers. The cast includes popular performer Parle Patel and TV legend Sue Holderness.
www.becktheatre.org.uk
COMEDY
THE INDIANS ARE COMING
When: Sunday December 11
Where: Monkey Barrel Comedy, 9-12 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR; and The Glee Club Glasgow, 11 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3AB
What: Two stand-up comedy shows in one day in two cities, featuring Sukh Ojla, Jay Sodagar, Raj Poojara and Preet Singh. Check website for further tour dates.
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-served basis.
www.eventbrite.com
INDIAN DANCE WORKSHOP
When: Saturday December 10
Where: Sawston Library, 41 New Road, Cambridge CB22 3BP
What: An engaging beginner’s workshop conducted by Ranjini Nair that teaches steps, gestures, expressions, and movements used in the Kuchipudi-style of classical Indian dancing.
www.library.live
INDIAN PARTY FOOD WITH CHEF KANTHI
When: Monday December 12
Where: The Community Kitchen, 113 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3XG
What: Cooking class where you learn to make Indian street food inspired party platters for the festive season, followed by a sit-down meal.
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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