Well-known British Asian actresses Meera Syal, Shobna Gulati and Nina Wadia will headline ‘Britasia’, a dazzling array of shows and events celebrating the British Asian experience which will be presented at Theatre Royal Stratford East between June 21 and 2 July 2005.

‘Britasia’ begins its two-week run with ‘Curry Tales’ from Tuesday June 21 to Thursday June 23, where Rani Moorthy plays a succession of larger-than-life cooks who laugh, chat and cry while actually making mouth-watering curries on stage. From vengeful Trinidadian duck curry to life-saving Malaysian Laksa, the dishes are shared with the audience, proving that curry really is the sauce of life!

Then, Asian deejays Raj & Pablo play the ‘Gener-Asian Game’ on Friday June 24. The two will present an evening of irreverent fun and frolics for all the family to enjoy, in an Asian spoof of the well-known TV game show, ‘Generation Game’. Raj and Pablo currently host a popular programme on BBC Radio’s Asian Network.

It will be time for comedy on Saturday June 25, when Stratford East hosts ‘Stand Up Britasia!’ Paul Chowdhry, Ayesha Hazarika, Jay Sodagar, and Kevin Sherwani will be the headline acts for this night of stand-up comedy featuring the best of British Asian comedians.

There are also activities for those of us who are of a more theatrical disposition. On Tuesday June 28 and Wednesday June 29, there will be ‘The British Dream’, which will feature readings of six short plays by established, emerging and new writers, such as Tanika Gupta, Wally Jiagoo, Samina Baig, Aileen Gonsalves, Alia Bano, and Ashmeed Sohoye.

Shobna Gulati, who plays Sunita in ‘Coronation Street’, and Nina Wadia, who starred in the hit television series ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, will take part in ‘Britasia Blaggers’ on Thursday June 30 and Friday July 1. ‘Britasia Blaggers’ which is being staged at Stratford East in association with Aarawak Moon Productions, is a hilarious improvisational comedy show with a difference.

Some of Britain's leading Asian performers will be devising comedy sketches and songs with the help of you, the audience. Celebrities on stage will be totally exposed with just their wit, skill, humour and experience to cover their blushes from the onslaught of an audience, who will be just waiting to get involved.

‘Britasia Blaggers’ will start at 7.30pm on both days. On Friday July 1, before the second show, there will be a symposium at 3pm on the subject, ‘What Does the British Asian Identity mean in the Arts Today?’ The panel of the symposium will include Meera Syal, star of TV shows ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘The Kumars’, and author of ‘Anita and Me’. Entry is free to charge.

‘Britasia’ closes with a bang on Saturday July 2 with a ‘Music Extravaganza Night’, a night of breaks and beats, featuring artistes such as Sanchita Farruque, Niraj Chag, and Sam, a.k.a. State of Bengal.

One of the original pioneers of the British Asian music scene, Sam’s collaboration album with Paban Das Paul 04 was nominated as best global album by Song Lines, and voted number two by XLR8R in their global breakfast charts. Niraj was the composer of ‘Baiju Bawra’, which was staged at Theatre Royal, and he returns to Stratford East with ‘Along a Dusty Road’, music from his first solo album. Sanchita defies stereotypes by singing British soul music.

There will also be free music nights on Wednesday June 29, Thursday June 30 and Friday July 1.

On Wednesday, Fuzz Fiaz spins a dizzying selection of Asian Fusian and Desi Beats.

On Thursday, budding deejays from the ADFED artistic development programme strut their stuff, while on Friday Aktarv8r presents sounds from urban global street cultures with hip-hop and Eastern vibes.

BRITASIA SCHEDULE

Curry Tales
Dates: Tuesday 21st June – Thursday 23rd June
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 (concessions half-price)

Gener-Asian Game
Date: Friday 24th June
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £8, £12, £16 (concessions half-price)

Stand Up Britasia
Date: Saturday 25th June
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £8, £12, £16 (concessions half-price)

The British Dream
Dates: Tuesday 28th June & Wednesday 29th June
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £6

Britasia Blaggers
Dates: Thursday 30th June – Friday 1st July
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £8, £12, £16, £20 (concessions half-price)

Symposium
Date: Friday 1st July
Time: 5.30pm
Tickets: FREE
Book via Box Office only 020 8543 0310

Music Extravaganza Night
Date: Saturday 2nd July
Time: 8pm
Tickets: £8, £12, £16, £20 (concessions half-price)

Britasia free music nights (in the Theatre Royal Bar)
Thursday 30th June: ADFED deejays
Friday 1st July: Aktarv8r
Time: 10pm