“This is new, new is good.”

Sam Willmott, Lyricist

Bhangra Nation

(Bhangin' It)
"Big, bright, bouncy and bursting with enough energy to propel it across the Atlantic"
Clare Brennan
The Guardian
"With direction by Stafford Arima, the production grows into a Goliath"
Anya Ryan
The Times
"The energy generated by Arima’s direction carries it all along to its inevitable, wholly satisfying conclusion"
Paul Vale
The Stage
"From the opening scenes the show is lively, fun and exhilarating"
Diane Parkes
What's On Stage
"The show wins with its charm and journey towards joy"
Arita Akbar
The Guardian
"Arima has not been afraid to go for full-on vibrancy in his direction... what it may lack in subtlety, it gains in tugging all the right heart strings"
Euan Rose
Bromsgrove Standard

Director's Note

​​This inventive and infectious musical had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse. It was a true gift and was titled Bhangin' It. Two years later, a revised script, score (and a new title) opened in the UK at The Birmingham Rep. This production brought together an international team of artists from four countries who were inspired to transform a unique story about bhangra, culture and identity into a delicious new musical.

A black and white photo of Stafford Arima standing with his arms crossed in dramatic lighting

Awards

2024 Eastern Eye ACTA Award for Best Production

Resources

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Credits

U.K. Production

Book: Rehana Lew Mirza & Mike Lew

Music & Lyrics: Sam Willmott

Choreographer: Rujuta Vaidya

Additional Choreography & Musical Staging: Rebecca Howell

Music Supervisor: Richard Morris

Orchestrator: Matthew Malone

Additional Arrangements & Orchestrations: Kuljit Bhamra

Musical Director: Josh Sood

Set: Michael Taylor

Lights: Nick Richings

Costumes: Linda Cho

Sound: Adam Fisher

Projections: David Bengali

Bhangra Consultant: Parambeer Samrai

Producer: Mara Isaacs, Tom Kirdahy, Peggy Koenig & The Birmingham Rep

Theatre: The Birmingham Rep

U.S. Production 

Book: Rehana Lew Mirza & Mike Lew

Music & Lyrics: Sam Willmott

Additional Music: Deep Singh

Choreographer: Rujuta Vaidya

Musical Staging: Lisa Shriver

Bhangra Specialist: Anushka Pushpala

Dance and Vocal Arrangements: Deep Singh, Sam Willmott

Orchestrations: Justin Goldner & Deep Singh

Music Director: Madeline Benson

Set: Robert Brill

Lights: Amith Chandrashaker

Costumes: Linda Cho

Sound: Jonathan Deans

Projections: David Bengali

Producer: Mara Isaacs, Tom Kirdahy & The La Jolla Playhouse in Co-Production with The Huntington

Theatre: Mandell Weiss Theatre