Review: Surinderella at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

★★★★

The well-trodden fairy tale of Cinderella meets Bollywood blockbusters in the modern, vibrant, and exciting re-telling ‘Surinderella’, directed by Ameet Channa (Bend it Like Beckham, EastEnders) with music and songs from PBN.  Fusing the British tradition of pantomime with contemporary South Asian talent, stories and culture, the production takes audiences to the Bolly Woods where Surinder (Sonya Venugopal) lives with her best friend, a cow named Basanti (Natasha Bacarese-Hamilton and Leela Kapil), and her wannabe Instagram influencer step-sisters.

After Prince Kavi (Rory Dulku) runs into Surinder in the forest, dressed in his aide, Babloo’s (Dhruv Ravi) clothing, he decides to throw an elaborate Bollywood ball to find his love again. With a little bit of magical help from her Devi Godmother (Bhavini Manoj Sheth), Surinder gets to dance the night away and find the sparkle she’s been looking for.

This might be a story you recognise but writer, Pravesh Kumar, gives the fairy tale a fresh take, not only with its Bollywood makeover but also with modern pop culture references and a subverted ‘happily-ever-after’ ending which offers growth arcs, morals, and just a sprinkle of girl power.

Created by Rifco – an arts charity that champions untold stories from the South Asian diaspora – this production is aimed predominately at South Asian audiences which it does exceedingly well with cultural cornerstones and jokes that connect deeply with audiences. Surinderella showcases authentic, joyful visibility and representation while also remaining accessible for audiences of any background; fabulously fusing the well-known traditions of British pantomime with enchanting desi magic.

A personal highlight in this show is Raheem Payne (also known by their drag alter-ego, Dosa Cat) who plays one of the stepsisters Bubbly, alongside Neil Varu’s Lovely. The pair, alongside Basanti, offer so many of the show’s comedic moments including the panto innuendos, woven in for adult entertainment. What’s more, Bubbly and Lovely also bring queer identity to Surinderella, including a Todrick Hall number, which takes his hit song ‘Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels’ and gives it a South Asian twist.

With humour and heart, a captivating cast, beautiful storybook-worthy backdrops, dazzling costumes (Andy Kumar), lively musical numbers, spellbinding transformations, and energetic Bollywood dancing, choreographed by Anna-Maria Barber, Surinderella is a thoroughly entertaining production that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

At a time when our country is becoming an increasingly hostile environment for groups including those of South Asian heritage, productions like Surinderella are a real joy to experience, offering a chance to celebrate the diverse, glittering culture brought to the stage and wider UK, as well as seeing diverse audiences enjoy the show together; united in entertainment.

Surinderella plays at The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 27th September so get tickets before the clock strikes midnight and you lose your chance of 'happily-ever-after'.

This review was written following a press invite to the production.