“Surinderella is the absolute must-watch show"
Rifco Theatre Company’s Surinderella returns for a nationwide tour, reimagining pantomime through a British South Asian lens on an ambitious scale.
Touring across the UK from July to October 2026, the production blends Bhangra-driven music, Bollywood-inspired spectacle and traditional pantomime energy into a fast-paced retelling of a classic fairytale.
Set in the vibrant world of Bolly-Woods, the story follows Surinder (Sonya Venugopal) as she navigates family expectation, identity and self-discovery, surrounded by a heightened cast of characters including social media-obsessed stepsisters, a talking cow and a larger-than-life fairy godmother figure.
Directed by Ameet Chana, with music and lyrics by PBN, the production also brings together performers including Andy Kumar and Harpz Kaur in roles that extend beyond performance into wider creative input.
Positioned as the UK’s largest-scale British South Asian pantomime, it aims to reframe a traditionally British form for new audiences across the country.
Against the backdrop of this nationwide tour, cast and crew reflect on the making and meaning of the production in an exclusive interview with DESIblitz.
Surinderella as a Cultural Crossover in British Theatre
For Rifco, Surinderella is designed to bring British South Asian audiences into a tradition that has not always reflected them.
As director Ameet Chana explains, the show leans into that ambition with scale and identity at its core.
He says: “Surinderella is the absolute must-watch show because it takes a beloved British theatrical staple, the pantomime, and infuses it with full-throttle Desi energy.
“We are talking about the UK’s largest-scale British South Asian panto, set in the vibrant world of the ‘Bolly-Woods’ where the drama is bigger than your aunties’ group chats!”
Chana says the production is a “cultural crossover” built to widen access to pantomime for communities who may not have seen themselves on stage before:
“For generations, the British South Asian community hasn’t always felt a direct connection to traditional winter pantos. We are changing that narrative completely.”
The production’s character design reflects that intention, as Chana explains:
“This show has everything: high-octane Bhangra beats from the absolute legend PBN… the fully self empowered, eco-warrior Surinder (Sonya Venugopal) and the selfie-obsessed, Insta-vlogging step-phenjis Lovely (Andy Kumar) and Bubbly (Raheem Payne).
“Whether you’re planning a big girls’ night out or bringing a massive Desi entourage… it offers an unforgettable night of pure masti, magic, and laugh-out-loud comedy.”
At its core, Surinderella is a “brilliant, glittering mirror reflecting modern, multicultural Britain”.
From Idea to National Production
The creative foundation of Surinderella began with a structural similarity between two entertainment forms.
Pantomime and Bollywood, according to Chana, share a natural alignment in tone and performance style.
He says: “The seed for Surinderella was planted when we realised just how perfectly the worlds of traditional British pantomime and Bollywood cinema overlap.
“Both thrive on larger-than-life characters, over-the-top drama, slapstick comedy, vibrant costumes, audience interaction, and unforgettable musical numbers.”
That overlap became the basis for a reworked fairytale, as writer and artistic director Pravesh Kumar reframed Cinderella into a contemporary British South Asian context.
Ameet Chana says: “Surinderella is our ‘Rags-to-Rani’ fairytale!
“What if the classic ‘wicked stepsisters’ (Step Phenjis in our show!) were modern, vain social media influencers?
“What if the Prince was drowning under immense shaadi pressure from his traditional royal family?”
Developing that concept required a layered collaboration.
Chana elaborates: “Bringing it from that initial spark to final production involved a tremendous, collaborative effort between Pravesh, PBN, the wider creative team and myself.
“Getting PBN on board to craft an infectious, hybrid soundtrack and assembling a stellar that now includes Harpz Kaur as our glamorous Devi Godmother.”
The scale of audience response also shaped the show’s trajectory.
“After the overwhelming love and madness we received during our initial run, we knew we had to crank the magic up to eleven, which led to mounting this massive national tour.”
Performance, Process & Audience Energy
Inside the rehearsal room and on stage, Surinderella is built around high-energy transitions between comedy, music and movement.
For Ameet Chana, that creative environment defines the production’s rhythm:
“As the director, without a doubt, the most joyful part of this entire journey has been witnessing the sheer creative synergy in the rehearsal room, followed by the ecstatic reactions of our audiences.
“Watching the cast blend classic panto tropes, like audience callbacks and slapstick comedy that have distinctively South Asian cultural nuances and bakwaas was pure fun.”
The show’s structure allows constant tonal movement, which he highlights as a defining feature:
“There is something incredibly magical about watching the immensely cast transition flawlessly from a panto gag straight into a high-energy Bhangra routine.”
That fusion of forms feeds into a broader sense of purpose.
Chana says: “The fact that I am now able, as a creative, to make the kind of work for British South Asian audiences and talent that I wish was around when I was a young, upcoming actor fills me with absolute joy.
“It makes coming to ‘work’ every single day so satisfying.”
The audience dynamic reinforces that impact.
Chana adds: “Rifco set out to open the theatre doors wider for our community.
“I’m often sat in the dress circle of some of the most beautiful theatres in our country and look around to see multi-generational families sitting together… a granddad, a mother, and a young child all laughing, clapping, and seeing themselves reflected on a grand scale – it’s profoundly rewarding.”
Character Building and Creative Ownership
For the cast members, Surinderella offers a blend of performance freedom and character depth.
Andy Kumar, who plays Lovely, describes the role as deliberately exaggerated but grounded in recognisable traits:
“I play Lovely, Surinderella’s older step-phenji. She has a dark and evil plot to sell the family home and move into a luxury penthouse with a gym downstairs that she’ll probably never use!
“She’s ambitious, dramatic, and completely over the top.”
The character’s function within pantomime tradition is central to its appeal, as Kumar continues:
“What I love most is that Lovely is a multi-faceted character who brings huge amounts of laughter through classic pantomime magic, but with a distinctly Desi twist.
“She’s the kind of character audiences love to boo one minute and laugh with the next.”
That audience relationship is part of what drew Andy Kumar to the production in the first place.
“The show was a superhit sell-out success last year, and now it’s heading out on tour again. I’m excited to bring it to new Desi audiences across the UK and share the magic with even more families.”
Detailing his additional creative roles, Kumar says:
“I’m also the Production and Costume Designer for the show, so I have a unique connection to it.
“This time around, there are even more surprises in store, with bigger spectacle, more sparkle and, of course, even more Desi bling!”
That expansion of practice has had a direct impact on his career trajectory:
“Surinderella has been a significant milestone in my career because it was the first time I worked as a Production Designer on a theatre production.
“The opportunity allowed me to expand my creative practice into a new medium and challenge myself in different ways.”
Representation and Evolving Performance Careers
Harpz Kaur is making her acting debut and for her, Surinderella represents both professional progression and personal alignment with Rifco’s creative ethos.
She tells DESIblitz: “I’ll be playing Devi – who is the Fairy Godmother. We all know how the story of Cinderella goes.
“So I’ll be the one to bring smiles, sparkles and lots of fairy dust!
“It feels surreal at the minute; the support has been amazing. And I can’t wait to hit that stage alongside such an incredible bunch of talent!”
Her connection to the production comes from long-term audience engagement with Rifco’s work:
“I’ve been attending Rifco plays for a very long time now. I love everything about them. And I can’t believe I’m now saying, I’m a part of it!
“I watched Surinderella last year and absolutely loved every minute of it. It’s fun, it’s colourful and full of emotions!”
Kaur says the role “naturally felt like the next step”, adding:
“I’ve been presenting and hosting shows for over 15 years now, so stage work is not new to me. I’m just going up another level!
“I’ve always wanted to act and I feel this is the perfect place for me to showcase that.
“It’s time for a new challenge. It’s an exciting new chapter ahead; who knows where it will take me? It’s all part of the fun!”
Protagonist Surinder is played by Sonya Venugopal and for the actress, the lead role carries both narrative weight and emotional complexity.
She details: “I play Surinder, the title character in Surinderella. She’s both incredibly relatable and wonderfully aspirational.”
Venugopal describes Surinder’s journey as grounded in cultural and personal negotiation:
“She’s someone navigating family expectations, cultural identity, love, and self-discovery while trying to stay true to herself.
“I think audiences see parts of themselves in her journey, regardless of their background.”
Returning to the role adds another layer of depth:
“I also played Surinder last year, so returning to the role feels incredibly special.
“I get to revisit a character I love while bringing a deeper understanding and new perspective to her journey.”
On her engagement with pantomime, Venugopal says:
“Panto is such a uniquely British theatrical tradition, full of audience participation, comedy, music, larger-than-life characters, and a wonderful sense of community.
“As an American actor, I’ve loved embracing that tradition and discovering how interactive and joyful it can be.”
That experience extends into career development across two markets.
“Surinderella has been tremendously important for my career, both professionally and personally.”
“It has introduced me to audiences and industry professionals across the UK and allowed me to deepen my relationship with the British theatre community.”
Looking ahead, she sees the production as part of a wider international trajectory.
Venugopal adds: “Having a Global Talent Visa has opened exciting opportunities for me to work across both sides of the Atlantic.
“This production has reinforced how much I enjoy working in the UK and how excited I am for what’s ahead.”
As Surinderella moves through its nationwide UK tour, the production continues to expand Rifco Theatre Company’s mission to reimagine pantomime for contemporary British South Asian audiences.
At the same time, it retains its core spirit of spectacle, humour and audience interaction.
The scale of the tour reflects both its creative ambition and its intention to reach communities across multiple cities and generations.
Surinderella UK Tour Dates & Venues 2026:
- Belgrade Theatre, Coventry: July 16 – July 19
- Beck Theatre, Hayes: July 22 – July 23
- St George’s Hall, Bradford: August 5 – August 8
- Grove Theatre, Dunstable: August 13 – August 16
- Theatre Royal, Portsmouth: August 18 – August 21
- Palace Theatre, Manchester: September 4 – September 5
- Crescent Theatre, Birmingham: September 9 – September 12
- New Theatre, Peterborough: September 15 – September 18
- Grand Theatre, Blackpool: September 22 – September 26
- Crescent Theatre, Birmingham: September 30 – October 3
- Woodville, Gravesend: October 7 – October 9
- artsdepot, Barnet: October 17 – October 18
- Theatre Royal Stratford East, London: October 20 – October 31
For more information, visit www.rifcotheatre.com.
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