Rifco Theatre Company brings you Frankie Goes to Bollywood, a vibrant and ambitious production. A dazzling, high-energy musical that blends spectacle with deep cultural commentary. From the outset, the production immerses its audience in a whirlwind adventure filled with colour, music and elaborate dance sequences, delivering a show that is both deeply engaging and entertaining.
At its core, the show follows Sarah Pearson (Frankie), a young British South Asian woman, as she navigates Bollywood’s bustling, glittering world. Created by Pravesh Kumar, with music by Niraj Chag and lyrics by Tasha Taylor-Johnson, the production balances the film industry’s glamour with its darker realities, exploring themes of identity, ambition, and the horrors behind the scenes.
The most striking element of the show is the incredible energy in every scene. The choreography is lively, packed with intense dance sequences that keep the energy high throughout the performance. These moments are elevated by strong, clear vocal performances across the cast, most notably from our leading lady, Sarah Pearson, and leading man, Akshay Datta (Prem). There’s both witty dialogue and playful banter, drawing on both British and Indian slang, providing moments of light-hearted humour, ensuring the play never gets too serious.
Visually, the show is a success. The beautiful set designs take inspiration from traditional Indian architecture, though it is cleverly dialled down when scenes are set in England. The set design shifts seamlessly between intimate and majestic, capturing both the offstage reality and the ‘larger-than-life’ world of Bollywood. Intricate, richly detailed costumes add to the grandeur, emphasising the production’s commitment to authenticity and flair.
The production is not without small flaws. Occasional lighting inconsistencies disrupt the otherwise polished staging, breaking focus from scenes that rely on atmosphere. Additionally, at times, exaggerated acting choices take away from the emotional core of the story, but this is not a serious fault of the play, and it keeps it easy-going.
The show is produced by Rifco Theatre Company, in association with Watford Palace Theatre and HOME Manchester. As a charity dedicated to championing British South Asian voices, Rifco plays a vital role in diversifying the theatre landscape, creating work that reflects contemporary South Asian experiences. Their productions combine large-scale spectacle with cultural storytelling, and Frankie Goes to Bollywood is a clear example of this.
Ultimately, Frankie Goes to Bollywood is a bold, colourful celebration of the South Asian diaspora and identity. While it occasionally forgoes subtlety for spectacle, its infectious energy and powerful performances make it a production worth seeing.
Photos credit: Richard Lakos.
