Bhangra Nation
| Bhangra Nation | |
|---|---|
| Music | Sam Willmott |
| Lyrics | Sam Willmott |
| Book | Mike Lew Rehana Lew Mirza |
| Premiere | March 8, 2022: La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego |
| Productions | 2022 San Diego 2024 Birmingham |
Bhangra Nation is a musical with a book by Mike Lew and Rehana Lew Mirza, music and lyrics by Sam Willmott.[3][4]
Production history
World premiere: La Jolla Playhouse (2022)
The musical made its world premiere under its original title Bhangin' It at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego from March 8 to April 17, 2022. The production was directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Rujuta Vaidya.[5][3]
Birmingham (2024)
The musical made its UK premiere under the new title Bhangra Nation at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 17 February to 16 March 2024.[6] The production was once again directed by Arima and choreographed by Vaidya with a new creative team.[7] Critics praised the 2024 Birmingham premiere cast, with The Stage noting Siobhan Athwal's 'vibrant' lead performance and describing Sohm Kapila's Rekha as 'instinctively fabulous,'[8] while WhatsonStage highlighted the 'superb comic timing' of the ensemble.
Cast and characters
| Character | San Diego | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2024 | |
| Preeti | Vinithra Raj | Zaynah Ahmed |
| Jake | Terrance Johnson | Gregory Armand |
| Sunita | Jaya Joshi | Siobhan Athwal |
| Lily | Madison McBride | Tia Antoine Charles |
| Shilpa | Ramita Ravi | Lydia Danistan |
| Noah | Henry Walter Greenberg | Kyle Evans |
| Billy | Brandon Contreras | Iván Fernández González |
| Mohan | Aryaan Arora | Kuldeep Goswami |
| Wallace | Jason Heil | Bob Harms |
| Varun | Zain Patel | Raimu Itfum |
| New Mary | Devi Peot | Sophie Kandola |
| Rekha | Alka Nayyar | Sohm Kapila |
| Shetal | Anu Mysore | Arysha Kelly |
| Constance | Laura Dadap | Ai Kumar |
| Amit | Bilaal Avaz | Mervin Noronha |
| Mary | Ari Afsar | Jena Pandya |
| Gobind | Jesse Bhamrah | Ajay Sahota |
| Just Bob | Amey Natu | Leo Udvarlaky |
| Swings | Nikki Miraz Devina Sabnis Gerry Tonella Levin Valayil |
RoMaya Jey Aaron Mistry Edward Turner Louis Mackrodt |
References
- ^ Akbar, Arifa (2024-02-29). "Bhangra Nation review – Punjabi dance powers a joyful high school musical". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
- ^ Brennan, Clare (2024-03-03). "Bhangra Nation: A New Musical review – big, bright and bursting with energy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
- ^ a b "Bhangin' It: A Bangin' New Musical". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ^ Hall, Margaret (2023-12-12). "Bhangra Nation Musical to Play Birmingham Rep". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ^ "BHANGIN' IT". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ Hall, Margaret (2024-02-17). "Bhangra Nation Musical Begins Birmingham Rep Engagement February 17". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ^ "Bhangra Nation at Birmingham Rep review – a firecracker of energy and enthusiasm". 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Bhangra Nation review at Birmingham Rep". The Stage. Retrieved 2026-02-15.