Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Why Raj Ghatak loves acting in iconic theatre show 'The Producers'

Why Raj Ghatak loves acting in iconic theatre show 'The Producers'
Raj Ghatak (Cermen Ghia) and Trevor Ashley (Roger de Bris) in the show
Manuel Harlan

ACCLAIMED British actor Raj Ghatak has consistently dazzled audiences with his expertly crafted performances in major theatre productions.

His latest venture is The Producers, currently running at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London until March 1, 2025. This freshly revived production of Mel Brooks’ iconic show, backed by a stellar creative team, promises to entertain and delight audiences.


Eastern Eye spoke to the versatile performer about his passion for theatre, his role in The Producers, and the enduring appeal of this classic comedy.

What do you most love about theatre? 

Theatre provides an incredible escape – it takes you on a journey, letting you experience something entirely different. A great production has the power to touch, move, and inspire. It allows you to leave the day’s stress behind, laugh, cry, and be transported to a magical space. I’ve experienced that magic, and it’s incomparable.

How do you usually approach a new stage character? 

I start by reading the script and making notes. Everyone has their own process, but I like to come prepared with ideas and remain responsive in the rehearsal room. Theatre is all about collaboration, and working together towards a shared goal is a rewarding experience.

 How do you feel about joining an iconic show like The Producers? 

It’s incredibly exciting. I remember watching it on Broadway and in the West End, so being part of it now feels like a huge milestone. The Producers has a legendary reputation, with 12 Tony Awards on Broadway (a record) and three Olivier Awards in the UK. Being part of its first revival since 2005 is both daunting and exhilarating.

Tell us about your role.

I play Carmen Ghia, the flamboyant assistant to renowned theatrical director Roger DeBris. Carmen is a comedic character with sharp wit and some iconic moments. He’s unpredictable, and that makes him such fun to portray.

Why do you think The Producers remains a timeless classic?

It’s all about the writing. The book for the show is written by comedy legends Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, who really know what they’re doing. The music is breathtaking, and the combination of comedy, deliberate bad taste, and a self-deprecating look at the theatre industry ensures its timeless appeal.

What is it that you love the most about this show? 

I absolutely love the humour. After all the challenges and hardships we face, a show like this provides a welcome escape and uplifting joy. The cast is immensely talented, and working alongside them has been such a joy and privilege. It’s been wonderful to be part of something that spreads so much laughter and positivity.

Raj Ghatakwww.easterneye.biz

Do you ever get nervous before going on stage?

Yes, I feel nervous while waiting in the wings. It’s an intense moment when everything feels heightened. But as soon as I step onto the stage, those nerves disappear. Rehearsals prepare you well, and once you’re in the moment, everything falls into place.

 How does performing comedy compare to other genres? 

Comedy demands skill just like anything else. There’s an art to delivering a joke and nailing comedic timing, especially when paired with song and dance. In The Producers, the audience’s reactions vary, creating a dynamic conversation between us and them. This connection makes comedy a particularly rewarding genre. You’ve performed in several West End productions.

What makes them special to you?

The West End represents the pinnacle of British theatre, renowned for its unmatched production quality and calibre. Whether it’s a grand musical or a thought-provoking play, the West End offers theatre at its finest. I’ve been fortunate to perform there multiple times, and the thrill of it is unbeatable.

Why should audiences come to watch The Producers?

The Producers offers an unforgettable night out. You’ll laugh, be amazed by the cast’s performances, and enjoy incredible music, choreography, sets, and costumes. It’s a spectacular extravaganza that you won’t want to miss.

The Producers is on at Menier Chocolate Factory, 4 O’Meara Street, London SE1 1TE until March 1, 2025. www.menierchocolatefactory.com

More For You

Kanpur 1857 play

This summer, Niall Moorjani returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with 'Kanpur: 1857'

Pleasance

Niall Moorjani brings colonial history to life with powerful new play 'Kanpur: 1857'

This summer, Niall Moorjani returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Kanpur: 1857, an explosive new play that fuses biting satire, history and heartfelt storytelling. Written, co-directed and performed by Moorjani, alongside fellow actor and collaborator Jonathan Oldfield, the show dives into the bloody uprising against British colonial rule in 1857 India, focusing on the brutal events in Kanpur.

At its centre is an Indian rebel, played by Moorjani, strapped to a cannon and forced to recount a version of events under the watchful eye of a British officer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lubna Kerr Lunchbox

Scottish-Pakistani theatre-maker Lubna Kerr returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with 'Lunchbox'

Instagram/ lubnakerr

Beyond curries and cricket: Lubna Kerr’s 'Lunchbox' challenges stereotypes at Edinburgh Fringe

Acclaimed Scottish-Pakistani theatre-maker Lubna Kerr returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with Lunchbox – the final instalment of her deeply personal and widely praised ‘BOX’ trilogy, following Tickbox and Chatterbox.

Inspired by her own upbringing as a Pakistani immigrant girl in Glasgow, Lunchbox is a powerful one-woman show that tackles themes of identity, race, bullying and belonging through the eyes of two teenagers growing up on the same street but living vastly different lives. With humour, honesty and heart, Kerr brings multiple characters to life, including her younger self and a troubled classmate, as she explores whether we are shaped by our environment or capable of breaking the cycle.

Keep ReadingShow less
Iman Qureshi’s play confronts
‘gay shame’ with solidarity

Iman Qureshi

Iman Qureshi’s play confronts ‘gay shame’ with solidarity

A NEW play looks at the cultural divisions in society, especially in the West, and shows how people can still come together and build a community even if they don’t always agree, its playwright has said.

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs, by Iman Qureshi, follows a group of women, mostly lesbians, who come together to sing in a choir, while sharing their lives, making new friendships, experiencing love, and finding humour during their time spent together. Themes of identity, politics and personal struggles are explored in the story.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brown Girls Do It Too; Poppy Jay & Rubina Pabani Break Taboo

Set against a cheekily colourful bedroom backdrop

AMG

'Brown Girls Do It Too' by Poppy and Rubina breaks taboos with comedy and heart

From the moment Poppy and Rubina stepped onto the stage of Soho Theatre in central London for Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come, the energy was electric, the laughs non-stop, and the message loud and clear: British Asian women are done with silence.

What began as a ground-breaking, award-winning podcast that sparked online backlash for daring to talk openly about sex and relationships within South Asian communities has now evolved into arguably the most unique and fearless live show of the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hunia Chawla’s 'Permission' takes aim at politics of ‘saving’ Muslim women

Anisa Butt and Rea Malhotra

Hunia Chawla’s 'Permission' takes aim at politics of ‘saving’ Muslim women

A NEW play explores the issues faced by this current generation of immigrants and questions the definitions of freedom and liberation, its playwright has said.

Permission, written and co-produced by Hunia Chawla, casts a questioning eye on the trope of ‘the oppressed Muslim woman’ and examines the links between patriarchy, protest, and the global political order.

Keep ReadingShow less