British pantomime gets a bold South Asian makeover in Surinderella, Rifco Theatre Company’s colourful production bringing Bhangra, Bollywood, comedy and fairytale magic together on stages across the UK. Running from 16 July to 31 October 2026, the nationwide tour takes one of Britain’s best-known theatrical traditions and gives it a contemporary desi identity. From the company behind Frankie Goes to Bollywood and Britain’s Got Bhangra, Surinderella is described as the UK’s largest-scale British South Asian pantomime of its kind.
Rather than simply recreating Cinderella with a different setting, the show builds its own playful world, mixing the spectacle and audience participation associated with traditional panto with characters, music and humour inspired by modern British South Asian culture. It is a production created for families and theatre lovers, but also for audiences who may never previously have seen themselves reflected in a traditional British pantomime.
Set in the vibrant world of the Bolly-Woods, the story follows Surinder, played by Sonya Venugopal, whose credits include Life of Pi on Broadway and its international tour. Surinder is a sweet and spirited young woman stuck under a seemingly endless mountain of chores while dealing with her two larger-than-life stepsisters. Andy Kumar, known as a former Bigg Boss contestant and host of India’s Got Talent, returns to the stage as the selfie-obsessed Lovely, while Raheem Payne, AKA Dosa Cat, plays Bubbly. Surinder’s unlikely ally is Basanti, a talking cow with plenty of attitude, adding another comic twist to the familiar fairytale formula.
Her fortunes begin to change when she encounters Prince Kavi, played by Rory Dulku, and the ever-optimistic Babloo, played by Dhruv Ravi. Add a mysterious slipper, an extravagant Bollywood Ball, romance and plenty of chaos, and Surinderella turns the Cinderella story into something recognisably panto while giving it a personality of its own.
Another major addition to the production is Harpz Kaur, who makes her acting debut as the fabulous Devi Godmother. Known for her broadcasting career, including her time at BBC Asian Network and appearances on BBC’s Saturday Mash-Up, Kaur steps into the theatrical spotlight as one of the show’s key characters. Behind the production, director Ameet Chana brings the different worlds of British panto and South Asian entertainment together, while Rifco Theatre Company Artistic Director Pravesh Kumar MBE has described the show as an opportunity to open the doors of pantomime to audiences who may not traditionally have felt connected to the art form.
“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,”
Kumar said.
That idea runs throughout the production, retaining the familiar fun of panto while reflecting the experiences and culture of modern Britain.
Music is also central to the show, with British Bhangra favourite PBN making his theatre debut as music producer and lyricist. Known as ‘The Hitmaker’, PBN brings his distinctive musical energy into a theatrical setting with a soundtrack blending Bhangra, Bollywood and South Asian sounds. For a production built around colour, comedy and audience participation, the music gives Surinderella another connection to British Asian culture and helps turn the show into more than a conventional fairytale adaptation. Director Ameet Chana has called Surinderella “a massive celebration of family, community, and pure theatrical magic,” describing it as a desi panto designed for everything from family outings to lively nights at the theatre.
Having opened its tour in Coventry in July, Surinderella has travelled to venues across the country, including Hayes, Bradford, Dunstable and Portsmouth, with further performances forming part of its run through to the end of October. The cast is completed by ensemble performers Chiara Dev Galli, Sarjan Hira, Neha Eapen, Kuldeep Goswami and Aron Rhode. At its heart, however, Surinderella is about taking something deeply familiar in British theatre and looking at it through a different cultural lens. With outrageous stepsisters, a Devi Godmother, a talking cow, a Bollywood Ball and a Bhangra-driven soundtrack, the production brings together two worlds in a way designed to feel celebratory, accessible and unmistakably desi.
