Bhangra Nation: A New Musical is coming to the Birmingham Rep next February

Bhangra Nation will run from 1st February to 9th March 2024 at the Birmingham Rep

The musical is a powerful and pulsating new show about competitive Bhangra dancing, With a book by Mike Lew and Rehanna Lew Mirza, music and lyrics by Sam Willmott, directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Rujuta Vaidya, this ambitious and exhilarating new musical will be built and rehearsed at The Rep. It originally premiered in 2022 at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego under the title Bhangin’ It.

The Tony award-winning Producers Mara Isaacs (Hadestown) and Tom Kirdahy (Hadestown and The Inheritence) said, “Bhangra Nation – A New Musical is a joyful, exuberant celebration of Bhangra and a deeply felt exploration of identity and community among young people finding their own way forward in the world. We can’t imagine a better home to help launch Bhangra Nation than in Birmingham!”

When Mary and Preeti’s Bhangra team qualifies for nationals, they set off on opposing quests to dance to their own beat. Drawing from competitive Bhangra and mixing it with other Indian and Western dance forms, ‘Bhangra Nation – A New Musical’ is a brash, intoxicating and joyous musical comedy for today.

Sean Foley said: “To be partnering with Bhangra Nation’s world class creative team, and co-producing this new musical with Mara Isaacs and Tom Kirdahy in the City that is the home of modern Bhangra is a thrill for everyone at The Rep. Little Red Riding Hood is our second Christmas show produced especially for young audiences, and we’re excited to welcome the newest of theatre-goers through our doors. We hope Birmingham will take both these extraordinary shows to it’s heart.”