Theatre Companies to ‘Champion’ British South Asian Stories

In a significant move towards inclusivity and cultural representation, several UK theatre companies are stepping forward to champion British South Asian stories, ensuring these voices are heard, seen, and celebrated on stage.

A Landmark Partnership: Rifco & Belgrade Theatre

The Rifco Theatre Company, based in Watford, has entered into a transformative multi-year partnership with Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, set to launch in April 2026. This collaboration builds upon the success of Rifco’s 2024 production Frankie Goes to Bollywood and raises the bar for representation and ambition on British stages.

• Pravesh Kumar MBE, Rifco’s Artistic Director, highlights Coventry’s creativity:
  
  “Coventry’s South Asian communities are rich with untold stories, authentic voices and bold, creative potential. This partnership gives us a powerful platform to nurture talent, reach wider audiences and create ambitious theatre, including new musicals, that truly reflects the spirit, diversity and dynamism of modern Britain.”

• Corey Campbell and Laura Elliot of Belgrade Theatre stress that their collaboration is about more than programming, it’s about a shared vision:
  
  “This work is about more than programming, it’s about shared vision, a commitment to representation and placing Coventry at the heart of a national conversation about identity, creativity and community.”
  

Other Theatres Playing a Pivotal Role

• Tamasha Theatre Company, founded in 1989 by Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon‑Smith, has consistently brought British Asian stories to national audiences. Productions such as East is East, Balti Kings, and A Fine Balance have paved the way, all backed by the company’s Tamasha Developing Artists initiative.

• Tara Arts Group, established in 1977 by Jatinder Verma and fellow students, remains one of the UK’s longest-standing British Asian theatre companies. Based in Earlsfield, London, Tara Arts embraces an inventive “Binglish” approach and has developed a home base with cultural significance

• Kali Theatre, founded in 1991 by Rita Wolf and Rukhsana Ahmad, dedicates itself to staging plays by South Asian women. Led for nearly a decade by the late Helena Bell, Kali’s Discovery programme and commitment to nurturing underrepresented voices broke considerable ground.