Photo Flash: Bollywood Comes to the Belgrade in THE GAME OF LOVE & CHAI

French farce meets vibrant Bollywood song and dance in Tara Arts' sparkling new comedy The Game of Love & Chai, coming to Coventry's Belgrade Theatre 24-28 April. Penned by actor and comedy legend Nigel Planer (The Young Ones, Filthy Rich) this hilarious new show sees the Marivaux classic The Game of Love Chance retold in a contemporary British Asian context.

Expect romance, infectious music and mistaken identity in this bold reimagining, heading to Coventry this spring as part of a six-week national tour. The show sees London's acclaimed British Asian theatre company Tara Arts return to the Belgrade following productions of Paradise of the Assassins (2016) and She Called Me Mother (2015).

Kamala is eager for her daughter Rani to marry the successful but emotionally awkward businessman Raj, but the strong-willed Rani has other ideas. Bristling at the thought of going down the conventional arranged marriage route, she decides to arrange a test for her potential spouse-to-be. Convinced by Rani to step in and take her place, Rani's cousin Sita tests the waters by pretending to be the suitable bride - unaware that Raj has come up with the same scheme with his driver, Nitin!

Directed by Jatinder Verma and designed by Claudia Mayer, The Game of Love and Chai features a cast of six, including Goldy Notay (Pink Sari Revolution; The Dishonoured) as Kamala-Ji, Adam Samuel-Bal (Bring on the Bollywood; Ishq: The Musical, Sadlers Wells) as Raj, Ronny Jhutti (Ciphers, Out of Joint/Bush Theatre; Rafta-Rafta, National Theatre) as Nitin, Deven Modha (East is East, Northern Stage) as Sunny, Sharon Singh as Rani and Kiren Jogi as Sita.

Best known for his role as Neil in the BBC comedy series The Young Ones, Nigel Planer has worked extensively in theatre, film and television, with acting credits including roles in the original London casts of Evita, We Will Rock You, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Chicago. A founding member of the London Comedy Store and the Comic Strip group, he has written several comedy books, novels, plays and scripts. In keeping with the spirit of Marivaux's original, his latest play sees passions, class and generation clash with explosive and hilarious consequences.

Said Planer: "I've been hooked on Indian cinema since 1973. I love its range, its daring and its ridiculous sense of fun. So when I came across Marivaux's play - a mistaken identity comedy about the foolish things we do when we fall in love - the connection seemed obvious. With Marivaux, as with so-called 'Bollywood', the main thing is to completely abandon oneself and let foolishness and love take over."

First performed in January 1730 by the Comédie Italienne, Pierre de Marivaux's romantic comedy The Game of Love and Chance makes use of Commedia dell'arte-style characters as servants take the place of their masters. Along with his contemporaries Goldsmith and Sheridan, Marivaux was among the first Western playwrights to be produced in India in the late 18th century. This new production forms part of Tara Arts' Heritage Lottery Funded Binglish project, exploring theatrical connections between India and the West.

Director Jatinder Verma said: "Nigel Planer's version of Marivaux's classic farce brings to the fore my abiding interest in connecting the worlds of East and West - connections that have enriched the theatrical cultures of both halves of the planet. Nigel's new play brilliantly re-imagines Marivaux for today's multicultural audiences, bringing a touch of India to this comic clash of passion and class."

The Game of Love and Chai runs at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from Tuesday 24 until Saturday 28 April. Tickets are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055, or by visiting www.belgrade.co.uk, where prices are even cheaper.

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