Stratford East announced a programme of South Asian work to run from 8 – 18 July. Comprising fearless new writing, live music, comedy, cabaret and boundary-pushing performance, this dynamic line-up will bring together award-winning theatre, bold storytelling and celebratory live experiences.
Highlights include:
- Kanpur: 1857 –Winner of the Asian Arts Award of Outstanding Production and the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund, the Edinburgh Fringe First winning sell-out smash hit returns to London. Written by and starring Niall Moorjani, Co-directed by and starring Jonathan Oldfield. 8 July
- Blue Mist – Olivier Award-nominated play Blue Mist is a sharp, darkly funny story about truth, trust and ambition. Written by Mohamed-Zain Dada (Dizzy, Speed), directed by Milli Bhatia (Speed, seven methods of killing kylie jenner). 10-14 July.
- Brown Sauce – Brown Sauce Comedy Club is a London legend, celebrating the best of Asian comedy. Previous performers have included Nish Kumar, Eshaan Akhbar, Mawaan Rizwan, Ria Lina, Sindhu Vee, Ahir Shah, Atsuko Okatsu and Fatiha El-Ghorri. Line up to be announced. 15 July.
- Say Shava Shava – Marking 25 years since the release of K3G, one of Bollywood’s most iconic films, Say Shava Shava is a live vocal and dance celebration inspired by its unforgettable soundtrack and cultural impact. 16 July.
- Qawwali Live: with Hussain Brothers – Experience powerful Sufi Qawwali alongside beloved modern OSTs and Ghazals, from the 9th generation Hussain Brothers Qawwali Group. An electrifying night of soaring vocals, rhythm and devotion. 17 July.
- Heeramandi – A bold, sensory evening of British Asian cabaret that fuses contemporary and classical dance, music, burlesque and comedy into one electrifying celebration of art, desire and resistance. 18 July.
- Tickets from £10 will be on sale today at midday at www.stratfordeast.com
Martin Willis, Programming Associate at Stratford East said: ‘I’m delighted to be announcing this mini season, my first for the theatre. The connection of Stratford East to its local South Asian community is a long and storied one, and it’s a joyto contribute to that lineage. The programme is a real range, with theatrical works showcasing both historical struggles (‘Kanpur: 1857’) and current adversity (‘Blue Mist’), traditional narrative dance fused with cabaret (‘Heeramandi’), and all-out bombastic Bollywood joy (‘Say Shava Shava’), there really is something for everybody.’
THE FULL PROGRAMME
Presented by Niall Moorjani and Pleasance:
KANPUR: 1857
Wednesday 08 July
Written by and starring Niall Moorjani
Co-directed by and starring Jonathan Oldfield
Winner of the Asian Arts Award of Outstanding Production and the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund, the Edinburgh Fringe First winning sell-out smash hit, Kanpur: 1857 returns to London.
Strapped to a cannon, an Indian rebel finds themselves answering to a British officer for the crimes of Kanpur – an Indian uprising against British colonial forces.
Based on historical events, this new play comically satirises contemporary conflicts around gender, colonial violence, and making art in times of crisis.
But who is the hero and who is the villain? Whatever happens, it’s going to be explosive.
Produced by Boundless Theatre in association with Tamasha. Originated at Royal Court Theatre, London:
BLUE MIST
Friday 10 July – Tuesday 14 July
Written by Mohamed-Zain Dada (Dizzy, Speed)
Directed by Milli Bhatia (Speed, seven methods of killing kylie jenner)
“A good journalist doesn’t always play friendly – in fact, they mostly don’t”
Chunkyz Shisha Lounge is home away from home for Jihad, Rashid and Asif, a space where community whispers are heard, jokes are shared, and new hustles are born. When aspiring journalist Jihad wins the chance to make his own documentary, he sets out to give voice to his community and challenge the usual stereotypes that fill the airwaves. But in a media landscape that profits off fear, how far can one voice really go?
Olivier Award-nominated Blue Mist is a sharp, darkly funny story about truth, trust and ambition.
Presented by Brown Sauce Comedy Club:
BROWN SAUCE
Wednesday 15 July
Brown Sauce Comedy Club is a London legend, celebrating the best of Asian comedy. Previous performers include Nish Kumar, Eshaan Akbar, Mawaan Rizwan, Ria Lina, Sindhu Vee, Ahir Shah, Atsuko Okatsu and Fatiha El-Ghorri.
Brown Sauce is built to highlight the humour of Brown and Asian people. Driven by comedians to platform comedians and bring them to the community that makes up our audience.
Line-up to be announced.
Presented by Luv Entertainment:
SAY SHAVA SHAVA
Thursday 16 July
Marking 25 years since the release of one of Bollywood’s most iconic films, Say Shava Shava is a live vocal and dance celebration inspired by its unforgettable soundtrack and cultural impact.
This concert-style production brings together talented vocalists, choreographed dance performances and immersive visuals to honour the songs that continue to resonate across generations. From heartfelt melodies to grand wedding favourites and uplifting dance anthems, the show captures the themes of family, love and celebration that made the music so memorable. Alongside live performances, carefully reimagined dialogue moments and cinematic visual sequences add atmosphere and nostalgia, creating a audio visual experience designed for theatre audiences.
The focus remains on the music, performed live, supported by choreography that evokes the spirit of a landmark Bollywood era. Whether you grew up with these songs or are experiencing them for the first time, Say Shava Shava invites you to relive the soundtrack in a vibrant, feel-good setting created for all ages. This is a tribute style live music and dance production inspired by the film’s soundtrack and legacy. It is not a theatrical adaptation or film screening.
Presented by House of Rumi:
QAWWALI LIVE: with Hussein Brothers
Friday 17 July
House of Rumi present Qawwali on Tour 2026 with Hussain Brothers Qawwali Group.
From the spiritual shrines of South Asia to the theatre stage, the 9th generation Hussain Brothers bring the raw power and passion of Qawwali to life.
Led by Ashaz Hussain, this dynamic ensemble draws on a rich Sufi musical lineage shaped by the great mystic poet Amir Khusro and carried through generations in devotion, poetry and rhythm.
The first half of the evening immerses audiences in classical Sufi Qawwali powerful, transcendent and deeply moving. In the second half, the energy builds with beloved modern OST’s and evocative Ghazals, blending tradition with contemporary favourites that audiences know and love.
Part of our South Asian season, this is more than a concert, it’s a celebration of heritage, spirituality and shared experience. Expect soaring vocals, thunderous handclaps, and the electric call-and-response that makes Qawwali one of the most exhilarating live music traditions in the world.
Insaan Arts in collaboration with Amina Khayyam Dance Company:
HEERAMANDI
Saturday 18 July
Step inside the world of Heeramandi: a bold, sensory evening of British Asian cabaret that fuses contemporary and classical dance, music, burlesque, female comedy, pole and cage performances into one electrifying celebration of art, desire, and resistance.
Inspired by the historical courtesans of Lahore’s fabled Heeramandi quarter — once revered as artists, poets, and dancers before being vilified under British colonial rule — this powerful production reclaims their legacy.
Through a fusion of movement, rhythm, and voice, Heeramandi: The Untold Cabaret confronts the misogyny, moral policing, and exploitation that shaped women’s bodies as battlegrounds of empire, while championing female and LGBTQ+ empowerment, sensual freedom, and creative expression.
The evening reimagines the courtesans’ salon where stories unfold through dance, humour, and song. Expect a mesmerising journey through the evolution of performance art, from South Asian classical dance to the vibrant underground cabaret scenes of modern Britain.
Building on the acclaimed Heeramandi Night first hosted by Insaan Culture Club, this new production expands its vision in partnership with Amina Khayyam Dance Company – with whom it previously collaborated on Bombay Bitch (2022) – combining theatrical choreography, live music, and immersive atmosphere. Dress up and join us for an unforgettable night of movement, satire, and soul; a space where art and defiance meet under the shimmer of the spotlight.
Get your tickets here: https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/south-asian-summer
WRITTEN BY: Nura Arooj
