Rifco Sets Full Cast of LAILA: THE MUSICAL

Rifco Artistic Director Pravesh Kumar today announces the full cast for the world première of Laila: The Musical. Kumar directs Reece Bahia, Ravin J Ganatra, Mona Goodwin, Kush Khanna, Sami Lamine, Sheena Patel, Vedi Roy, Shin and Yinka Williams in the production which opens at Watford Palace Theatre on 7 April. Laila then tours to The New Wolsey Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Warwick Arts Centre, Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Theatre Royal Windsor and The Lowry.

From the creators of acclaimed award-winning musical Britain's Got Bhangra comes a new contemporary musical - Laila. Director and Writer Pravesh Kumar (The Deranged Marriage, There's Something About Simmy), Music Composer Sumeet Chopra (Break the Floorboards) and Lyricist Dougal Irvine (Departure Lounge, In Touch) have come together for a retelling of the greatest eastern love story - Laila Majnu.

Originating in 7th century Persia, the bittersweet story of star-crossed lovers has been passed down through verse and song over centuries. It was popularized by 12th century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi with his version Layla u Majnun and British poet Lord Byron described the story as the "Romeo and Juliet of the east". Predating Shakespeare's play by 700 years, it is said to have inspired the bard's tragic love story.

The story of young love and feuding families is being given a contemporary musical twist by the Laila creative team.

Reece Bahia plays Qays. His theatre credits include Buddy Holly's Rock and Roll Show (Belgrade Theatre) and Got to be Michael and Sandra Godley's Sounds of the 60s, 70s & 80s (Cambridge Corn Exchange). Reece won Coventry's Young Entertainer of the Year prize in 2013.

Ravin J Ganatra plays Abba. He has worked with Rifco previously on The Deranged Marriage. His other theatre credits include Coming Up (Watford Palace Theatre), Passage to India, Journey to the West, Revelations, Exodus and Nagwanti (Tara Arts/UK tours), The Mahabharata (UK tour), Natural World (Kali Theatre Co) and Hamlet, The Winter's Tale, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Library Theatre). His television credits include In the Club 2, Handle with Prayer, Britz, The Fugitives, Tom & Thomas, Dalziel & Pascoe, Entrapment, The Rammayana and Travesties.

Mona Goodwin plays Laila. Her theatre credits include The Snow Queen (Royal and Derngate), Generation of Z (Royale Productions), Finding Noor (Citizens Glasgow), Suffering in Sirens (Greenwich Theatre), Julius Caesar, The Conspirators and The Tempest (Orange Tree Theatre), DNA (Courtyard Theatre), Far from the Madding Crowd and Where Have I Been All My Life (New Vic Theatre), Wind in the Willows (Chesterfield Rep), Cling to me like Ivy (Birmingham Rep), Spring Awakening (Novello Theatre), Viable Alternatives and V for Vendetta (Theatre 503). Her work for television includes Capital, Marvellous, Topsy and Tim and Black Mirror; and for film, Marvellous, Brighton Rock, Infliction and Freefall.

Kush Khanna plays Atif. This production marks his professional stage debut.

Sami Lamine plays Tabrez. He previously worked with Rifco on MummyJi Presents and British Asian Festival. Further theatre credits include Qudz (The Yard Theatre), Broadway to West End and Fours Company at the Movies.

Sheena Patel plays Zeenat. She has previously worked with Rifco on The Deranged Marriage, Break the Floorboards and Britain's Got Bhangra. Further theatre credits include Wah! Wah! Girls (Sadlers Wells), Romonic (Soho Theatre), Miss Lilly Gets Boned (Finborough Theatre), Wuthering Heights (Lyric Hammersmith) and Robin HoodI and Sleeping Beauty (Watford Palace Theatre). Her television credits include Law and Order UK.

Vedi Roy is in the ensemble. This production marks his professional stage debut.

Shin plays the Prince. He is primarily known as a singer and performer and he has performed extensively over the years with his band DCS. He previously worked with Rifco on Britain's Got Bhangra where he played the lead role of 'Twinkle' in the 2010 and 2011's productions.

Yinka Williams is in the ensemble. Her theatre credits include Bombay Dreams, Screaming Without Words, Who Am I?, Red Hot And Cole (Landor Theatre) and Religion of Love (Rich Mix). Her work for television includes Planet Ajay and Tonight's the Night; and for film, London Road.

Pravesh Kumar directs the production and is Artistic Director of Rifco. He started the company to create a voice for British Asian artists, to make new work that is relevant and accessible to this under represented audience. Before setting up Rifco, Pravesh worked extensively in Mumbai's film and television industry, as an assistant director and writer. His theatrical directorial debut was in 1999 with a UK tour of Bollywood - Yet Another Love Story, which opened to packed houses at The Riverside Studios, Hammersmith. He has gone on to achieve critical acclaim for Rifco's award winning productions: Britain's Got Bhangra, Happy Birthday Sunita, It Ain't All Bollywood, There's Something About Simmy, Airport 2000, Meri Christmas, Where's My Desi Soulmate?, The Deranged Marriage and Break The Floorboards. His first short film, Gods On Mountains was shot entirely on location in the Himalayas and was nominated for the Satyajit Ray Short Film Award in 2009. He was Associate Director on the musical Wah! Wah! Girls, which opened in the West End as part of World Stages London for the 2012 Olympics. Pravesh also writes and directs MummyJi Presents, a live theatre variety show and digital show, which was originally commissioned by the BBC and Arts Council England.

Sumeet Chopra is the composer. He has worked extensively with many globally renowned artists in the Bollywood, Bhangra and world music arenas. Sumeet first emerged as a prominent member of the pioneering Bhangra band Alaap performing at concerts and festivals all over the world. He went on to collaborate with British Asian Underground artists Talvin Singh, Jonny Kalsi and The Dhol Foundation. He produced the world's first ethnic sample CD, Karma Chopra which received much critical acclaim laying the foundations for many chart toppers by artists including A.R Rahman and Panjabi MC. As a Music Director for Bollywood he has recorded with many singers such as Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Mahalaxami Iyer, Shanker Mahadevan, Richa Sharma, Krishna Beura and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Sumeet previously worked with Rifco on Britain's Got Bhangra and dance drama Break The Floorboards.

Dougal Irvine is the lyricist. He is an award winning composer, lyricist and writer and worked previously with Rifco on Britain's Got Bhangra. His credits as bookwriter/lyricist/composer include Departure Lounge (many productions including Waterloo East and Off Broadway Public Theatre - NY Summer Play Festival), In Touch (Bridewell Theatre, Rabinest Theatre - Japan), The Other School (St James Theatre/NYMT), Angry Birds (The Space, Havering), The Buskers Opera (Forthcoming). As lyricist his work includes The Lighthouse (The Production Exchange). And as Composer his work includes the upcoming production of The Witches (Leicester Curve), Teddy (Southwark Playhouse), The Snow Queen (Nuffield Theatre/Royal and Derngate) and The Bacchae and Blood Wedding (Royal & Derngate, Northampton). His album Acoustic Overtures; the songs of Dougal Irvine features a forward by Stephen Fry and the Stiles and Drewe song prize winning Do You Want A Baby Baby?. Dougal was also runner up in the prestigious Arts Foundation award.

RIFCO

Rifco develops and creates vibrant, accessible and high quality theatre to encourage and engage new and diverse audiences. Their work reflects and celebrates the contemporary British Asian experience with a focus on artistic excellence, new writing and ambitious programming, involving the community every step of the way.

Rifco have been active for over 15 years and have been an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation since 2012.

The company aims to produce great and watchable art that educates without preaching. Dealing with current topics and at times taboo subjects. This combined with all the glitz and glamour you would expect from a British Asian Theatre Company makes Rifco unique.

Past productions include Airport 2000, Bollywood Yet Another Lovestory, It Ain't All Bollywood, Meri Christmas, There's Something About Simmy, Where's My Desi Soulmate?, Britain's Got Bhangra, Break The Floorboards, MummyJi Presents, Happy Birthday Sunita and The Deranged Marriage. Productions have toured across venues such as Warwick Arts Centre, The Curve Leicester, Theatre Royal Stratford East, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Theatre Royal Windsor, The Drum, Oldham Coliseum, The Orchard Dartford, Oxford Playhouse, Hackney Empire, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, NCPA Mumbai, Habitat Centre and DUCTAC Dubai.

Awards: Best Live Event - Break The Floorboards, Asian Media Awards 2013. The People's Favourite Musical - Britain's Got Bhangra, Off West End Theatre Awards 2011.

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