LIVE PERFORMANCE
DARBAR FESTIVAL 2021
When: Thursday, October 21-Sunday, October 24
Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
What: The annual music festival, now in its 16th year, returns following a digital edition in 2020, with more classical concerts and performances featuring acclaimed artists. Some of the concerts will be available online.
Sukhwinder Singh (Photo: Rehmat Rayatt)
www.barbican.org.uk
BOLLYWOOD BLAST
When: Sunday, October 24
Where: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE
What: Ketan Kansara headlines an unforgettable evening celebrating the music of Indian cinema from the 70s, 80s and 90s. He will be accompanied by the band D26, along with fellow singers Anuradha Shukla, Rekha and Parry Mad.
www.becktheatre.org.uk
VOICE OF LEGENDS
When: Thursday, October 28
Where: Belgrade Theatre, Belgrade Square, Coventry CV1 1GS
What: Accompanied by a live orchestra and dancers, popular singer Navin Kundra performs timeless songs from classic Indian cinema originally performed by great legends such as Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, and Lata Mangeshkar.
www.belgrade.co.uk
EVENTS
JO DIXON - AN INDIAN JOURNEY
When: Monday, October 11–Friday,
November 5
Where: Zari Gallery, 73 Newman Street, London, W1T 3EJ
What: Artist Jo Dixon’s collection of paintings from recent visits to India, which reveal the dignity and depth of spirituality of a society that retains an intrinsic beauty, which is distinguished and mystical.
www.zarigallery.co.uk
BANGLADESH 50
When: Sunday, October 17
Where: Entrance Hall, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
What: A family-friendly event that puts a spotlight on Bengali culture with music, dance, food and talks. Presented as part of the Bloomsbury Festival, the entertainment includes performers, high-profile speakers, poetry, film and projections.
www.bl.uk
A LIFE IN SPICE - BIJOYA WITH FRIENDS
When: Tuesday, October 19
Where: Cinnamon Kitchen & Anise, 9 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YL
What: The fourth event of the ‘Life in Spice’ series is dedicated to Bijoya, which is a feast celebrated with family and friends. There is a 12-dish menu created by acclaimed chefs.
www.eventbrite.com
ANIL SETH: BEING YOU
When: Thursday, October 21
Where: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
What: The opening night of London Literature Festival sees one of Britain’s leading neuroscientists deliver a keynote talk on what the new science of consciousness can tell us about what it is to be ‘self’.
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
THEATRE
LOVE ‘N STUFF
When: Until Saturday, October 9
Where: Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ
What: The acclaimed comedy about love, marriage, and family makes a welcome return. Two actors play more than 15 characters in the story of a wife trying to stop her husband from moving back to India.
www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk
EAST IS EAST
When: Until Saturday, October 30
Where: National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
What: The 25th anniversary production of Ayub Khan Din’s widely acclaimed 1970’s set comedy about children brought up by their strict Pakistani father and white English mother.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
10 NIGHTS
When: Until Saturday, November 6
Where: Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 8LJ
What: The moving and funny new play by Shahid Iqbal Khan is the story of one man’s journey of self-discovery as he decides to take part in itikaf, sleeping and fasting in the mosque for the last 10 nights of Ramadan, as he navigates smug worshippers, shared bathrooms, and recurring thoughts of chunky chips.
www.bushtheatre.co.uk
COMEDY
DESI CENTRAL COMEDY SHOW
When: Saturday, October 9
Where: Belgrade Theatre, Belgrade Square, Coventry CV1 1GS
What: The stand-up comedy tour continues with, Aatif Nawaz, Noreen Khan, Anuvab Pal and Kat B delivering their own brand of humour.
www.belgrade.co.uk
SUKH OJLA: LIFE SUKHS
When: Sunday, October 10
Where: Backyard Comedy Club, 231 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 0EL
What: Acclaimed stand-up comedian Sukh Ojla continues her solo tour of the UK with her show, where she talks about subjects, including mental illness, moving back in with her parents, identity and living a double life.
www.luventertainment.co.uk
KANAN GILL
When: Monday, October 11–Saturday, October 23
Where: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE
What: Having toured globally, along with stand-up specials on Netflix and Amazon Prime, Indian stand-up comedian Kanan Gill returns to London with a brand-new show.
www.sohotheatre.com
TEZ ILYAS: THE VICKED TOUR
When: Sunday, October 17
Where: Hot Water Comedy Club, 45 Hardman Street, Liverpool L1 9AS
What: A brand-new stand-up show with the comedian, TV personality and author, as he uses his trademark silly, smart, and subversive humour to celebrate all that we still have.
www.hotwatercomedy.co.uk
SINDHU VEE: ALPHABET
When: Sunday, October 17
Where: Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL
What: A brand-new stand-up show with the popular comedian about the hair we want, the friends we have, and living the vast difference between virus and viral.
www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
PAUL CHOWDHRY: FAMILY
FRIENDLY COMEDIAN
When: Tuesday, October 19–Wednesday, October 20
Where: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE
What: The popular comedian returns with a brand-new stand-up show about UK’s handling of the pandemic, why the rules of six only worked for white people, fame, England football fans, and Tom Cruise landing his helicopter in someone’s garden.
www.becktheatre.org.uk
ARABS VS ASIANS
When: Thursday, October 28
Where: Streatham Space Project, Sternhold Avenue, Streatham Hill, SW2 4PA
What: The stand-up show features two hours of non-stop laughter with acclaimed comedians Raj Poojara, Farhan Solo, Esther Manito and Mamoun Elagab.
www.streathamspaceproject.co.uk
CLASSES
SHAKTI DIVAS BHANGRA FUSION 2021
When: Until Tuesday, December 14
Where: Heston Community School, Heston Road, Heston, Hounslow, TW5 0QR
What: A weekly bhangra-Bollywood dance class led by renowned choreographer Rakhi Sood, which is designed to keep you fit in a fun and friendly environment.
www.watermans.org.uk
INDIAN MUSIC APPRECIATION
COURSE
When: Saturday, October 16-Sunday,
October 17
Where: Online
What: An essential online course aimed at complete beginners that demystifies traditions and practices central to classical musical traditions.
www.barbican.org.uk
ANGLO INDIAN TAPAS MASTERCLASS WITH LUNCH
When: Sunday, October 17
Where: Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar, 47-49 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1PJ
What: A masterclass with expert chefs on how to prepare and cook healthy, green, and clean Anglo-Indian food.
www.eventbrite.com
Sidhu Moosewala, Indian Singer (Photo: @sidhu_moosewala) 
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