Rifco Theatre Company Announce Full Cast For World Première & Uk Tour Of Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's DISHOOM!

Rifco Theatre Company, in a co-production with Watford Palace Theatre and with Oldham Coliseum Theatre, today announces the full cast for the UK tour of the world première production of Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's Dishoom!. Artistic Director Pravesh Kumar directs Elijah Baker (Mark), Seema Bowri (Bibi), Georgia Burnell (Donna), Omar Ibrahi (Dad), Gurkiran Kaur (Baljit) and James Mace (Keith) alongside previously announced Bilal Khan (Simon).

Opening at Watford Palace Theatre on Tuesday 18 September, with previews from Wednesday 12 September, it will then tour to Queens Theatre Hornchurch, Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Warwick Arts Centre before concluding its run at Derby Theatre on Saturday 27 October.

Summer 1978, Simon and his friends should be looking forward to leaving school, but the National Front are on the streets, Simon's Bibi is ashamed of him and his Dad spends his life hiding in the pub.

When Simon's cousin Baljit comes to stay, she introduces him to the Bollywood classic, Sholay. Inspired by the film's dynamic duo, Jai and Veeru, Simon and Baljit find their inner superheroes and set out to change their world forever.

Featuring music from the smash hit Bollywood film Sholay, this comedy drama follows Simon and his friends as they find their inner superhero and set out to change the world together.

Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti has written extensively for stage, screen and radio. Her first play Behsharam (Shameless) broke box office records at Soho Theatre and the Birmingham Rep. Behzti (Dishonour) was sensationally closed after protests at the Birmingham Rep in December 2004. Behzti won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the play was then translated into French and did sell-out tours in France and Belgium. Behud (Beyond Belief) was co-produced by Soho Theatre and Coventry Belgrade and shortlisted for the John Whiting Award. Khandan had a sell-out run at the Birmingham Rep before transferring to the Royal Court. Recent credits include Elephant, Birmingham Rep; Fourteen, Watford Palace Theatre; the feature film Everywhere and Nowhere; DCI Stone, Radio 4; Londonee, Rich Mix; Dead Meat, Channel 4 and An Enemy of The People (BBC World Service). She is a Creative Associate at Watford Palace Theatre and a member of the writing team of The Archers. Her first collection of plays, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti: PLAYS ONE, is published by Oberon Books.

Elijah Baker plays Mark. His theatre credits include Childsplay (UK tour), Hoods and Halos (The Albany) and On the Middle Day (The Old Vic). His television credits include Babylon, My Murder, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Injustice and Dustin Baby; and for film, Tango One, We Still Kill the Old Way, Vendetta and Deviation.

Seema Bowri plays Bibi. Her theatre credits include Croydon Avengers (Ovalhouse), My Country (National Theatre), Night at the Bombay Roxy (Swamp Studios), Lisa's Sex Strike (Northern Broadsides), Calcutta Kosher (UK tour), Come Out Eli (Arcola Theatre) and The Big Magic (Polka Theatre); and for television she played series regular PC Leela Kapoor in The Bill.

Georgia Burnell plays Donna and this marks her professional stage debut. She will be appearing in the film, Mary Queen of Scots later this year.

Omar Ibrahim plays Dad. His theatre credits include Cosmic Clown (VAULT Festival/Buxton Festival Fringe), Ricky Whittington (New Diorama Theatre) and Working Christmas (Old Fire Station Theatre).

Gurkiran Kaur plays Baljit. Her theatre credits include Pink Sari Revolution (UK tour), The Test (Southwark Playhouse), Globe Town (Rich Mix), Tiddlywinks (Theatre503), Still Life (Kali Theatre), Not in My Name (Fuse Theatre) and Lotus Beauty (Gate Theatre). Her television credits include London Kahanis and Oxasians.

Bilal Khan plays Simon and this marks his professional stage debut. Khan himself was born with cerebral palsy and will be taking on the role of a young man with a disability who is struggling to find his place in the world around him.

James Mace plays Keith. His theatre credits include Real Life Becomes A Rumour (White Box Theatre) and Desperate Measures (Jermyn Street Theatre). His television credits include Marcella and Liar.

Artistic Director of Rifco Theatre Company Pravesh Kumar directs Dishoom. He started the company in 1999 to make a different kind of theatre for a community that could not see themselves represented on English stages. 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 productions: Pyar Actually, Miss Meena & the Masala Queens, Laila The Musical, 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. He also writes and directs MummyJi Presents, a live theatre variety digital show, which was originally commissioned by The Space, a collaboration between the BBC and Arts Council England. Pravesh is currently writing a new main stage musical and leads on the Rifco Associate programme.

To post a comment, you must register and login.