Birmingham Rep – until Saturday 16th March 2024
Reviewed by Nadia Dodd
5*****
The story line is simple – there’s an American college bhangra team who win a place in the national finals, to increase their chances in winning they attempt to review their initial routine – but not everyone in the team agrees.
The show bursts onto the stage so colourful and such an energetic dance routine the audience are captured straight away, it was a delight to see such energy in the very opening scenes.
Theres a disagreement between Mary who is happy to try new ideas from other traditional dances and Preeti, who is wanting the dance group to stick to basic bhangra moves inspired by South Asia. This initial disagreement then becomes personal between the two girls, resulting in Mary leaving the dance group and deciding to set up her own rival group.
Mary is a girl of mixed-race heritage; Preeti accused her of having a ‘white girls’ opinion’. The show does focus on dance but also a story of both girls seeking who they really are, where they belong and exploring their self-confidence.
Bhangra Nation is written by Mike Lew and Rehana Lew Mirza, directed by Stafford Arima. The story is explaining to the audience how to be true to yourself and the traditions of your heritage backgrounds.
Outstanding, excellently timed choreography that was put together by Rujuta Vaidya. Not only did we enjoy the bhangra moves but we saw Bollywood, hip-hop, some Latin and kathak. My particular favourite part was being introduced to Rekha in her ‘Samosa Hut’!
Visually impressive projections across the stage and sets, colourful costumes, lights and many joyful and energic dance scenes that really make this show a real hit with the audience, everyone was buzzing about the first half during the interval and excited for the second half to unfold.
The show was first shown in America under a different title ‘Bhangin’ It’, I believe this is why the story is still now set in an American college. There are some very talented young performers in the cast, extremely talented and the newer cast members among them are certainly difficult to spot, hours of rehearsing have obviously been carried out – they worked together so well.
A joyous, energetic, burst of fun, certainly enjoyed by all in the audience last night