'Surinderella': British pantomime 'Cinderella' gets a desi twist

Set in the colourful world of "Bolly-Woods", the musical follows Surinder, played by Sonya Venugopal, whose life is dominated by endless household chores.

A classic British pantomime tradition is getting a distinctly desi makeover with 'Surinderella', a large-scale British Indian musical adaptation of 'Cinderella' that opens its UK tour at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry on July 16.Produced by Rifco Theatre Company, the family-friendly production reimagines the beloved fairy tale through a contemporary British Indian lens, blending Bhangra music, Bollywood-inspired spectacle, comedy and the audience participation that has long defined British pantomime.Billed as the largest-scale British Indian pantomime of its kind, 'Surinderella' will travel across the UK before concluding its run at Theatre Royal Stratford East in London on October 31.

The production aims to make the traditional festive theatre format more accessible and relatable for British South Asian audiences while celebrating one of Britain's best-loved stage traditions.“We’ve always loved the ingredients of pantomime, the humour, music and pure spectacle, so with ‘Surinderella’ we’ve added our own masala to the mix," Pravesh Kumar, Rifco artistic director, said in a statement.“For many British South Asian audiences, it hasn’t always been a tradition they felt connected to, so this is about opening the door wider, introducing new audiences, and celebrating a much-loved British art form in a way that reflects modern Britain,” he said.

Set in the colourful world of "Bolly-Woods", the musical follows Surinder, played by Sonya Venugopal, whose life is dominated by endless household chores. Her only companion is Basanti, a talking cow, as she endures the antics of her selfie-obsessed, Insta-vlogging stepsisters, Lovely and Bubbly.The story takes a familiar fairy tale turn when Surinder meets Prince Kavi, played by Rory Dulku, and receives magical help from Devi Godmother, portrayed by Harpz Kaur.

A mysterious slipper, a glamorous Bollywood Ball and a whirlwind of romance and comic chaos complete the reimagined tale.Director Ameet Chana described the production as an inclusive theatrical experience designed to appeal to audiences of all ages.“'Surinderella' is a massive celebration of family, community, and pure theatrical magic. This is a fun-for-all desi panto built for every kind of day or night out," Chana said.“Whether you’re planning a day out for the summer holidays with the kids, a big girls' night out with bubbles to add to the show's sparkles, or arriving with a full Desi entourage with the whole family and your maasis (aunts) in tow, you're in for an unforgettable experience. Grab your crew and book your tickets now before the clock strikes midnight," he said.Adding to the production's British Indian identity is an original soundtrack by British Bhangra artist PBN, widely known as "The Hitmaker", whose music combines Bhangra rhythms with Bollywood and South Asian musical influences.