An afternoon of free family arts activities including dance, music, a Bollywood film and henna tattooing will take place at the New Vic on Saturday 13 July, ahead of South Asian Heritage Month celebrations.
Appetite and the New Vic have teamed up to present a day of free family fun inspired by South Asian culture, with a programme created in collaboration with the local South Asian community, on Saturday 13 July from 1.00pm to 4.30pm.
In the main Auditorium will be Choogh Choogh, an interactive performance inspired by the joy of travelling India by train, taking place from 1.15pm to 2.00pm, and again at 3.00pm to 3.45pm. Imaginations will run wild as the audience is taken on an exciting journey, featuring both classical Indian and contemporary dance, theatre and play, with songs written specially for children.
There will also be Bhangra workshops from dance group Nachda Sansaar in the Auditorium at 2.15pm to 2.45pm, and 4.00pm to 4.30pm, for anyone curious about learning a mix of traditional and freestyle moves in this energetic style.
The Bollywood film English Vinglish, a comedy-drama about an ordinary woman’s determination to learn the English language to overcome society’s expectations, will be screened in the theatre’s Studio space. It will be shown in two parts, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, and then 3.00pm to 4.15pm, with audiences invited to dip in and out of or watch in full
There will be music from singer-songwriter Amrit Kaur in the Bar area from 1.40pm to 2.10pm and again from 3.10pm to 3.40pm, giving an insight into women’s history in the Punjab, through original soul music and Punjabi classics. Having performed at Glastonbury, this is a brilliant chance to see the musician in the intimate surroundings of the New Vic.
Meanwhile in the Youth Room, Jamilla’s Beauty will be creating unique and stunning henna tattoos from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.
All activities on Saturday 13 July will be available to sign up for on the day, on a first-come-first-served basis.
The fun day on Saturday 13 July follows the Sensasian programme earlier in the week presented in the New Vic auditorium, which includes the Desi Central comedy night featuring Sukh Ojla, Nabil Abdulrashid, Tommy Sandhu and Raj Poojara on Tuesday 9 July; music and dance in Roshni by the Sonia Sabri Company on Wednesday 10 July; and Britain’s Got Talent finalist, magician Ben Hart presenting the Indian-inspired Jadoo on Friday 12 July.
South Asian inspired food will be available during the week, served up courtesy of Neena’s from 5.30pm in the New Vic restaurant for the Comedy Night with Desi Central on Tuesday 9 July, Roshni by Sonia Sabri Company on Wednesday 10 July, and during the afternoon on Saturday 13 July. Meanwhile there will be an authentic Indian and Bangladeshi three-course meal on offer from Ebu at Mehek in the restaurant from 5.30pm for Jadoo by Ben Hart on Friday 12 July. Both are walk-up only, first-come-first-served (no booking required).
Sensasian will take place at the New Vic from Tuesday 9 July to Saturday 13 July 2024. For more information and to book tickets, visit newvictheatre.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01782 717962.