BOLLYWOOD has only rarely crossed over from the Indian film world to Yorkshire’s theatres. There was Bollywood Jane at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2007 and, stretching the boundaries a little, Rifco’s Laila: The Musical offered a bhangra take on the greatest love story from the east, Laila Majnu, at the same theatre in May last year.

Samir Bhamra is determined to tap into Bollywood’s potential for more regular stage exposure with his dance-theatre extravaganza Bring On The Bollywood, a title that could not be more direct in its almost impatient desire to spread its exuberant magic.

“Bollywood is widely perceived to be a low-brow art form that requires no skill, but not only is it – in my experience – the hardest art form to crack, it shares more than people realise with the classical Western arts,” says Bhamra, artistic director of the splendidly named Phizzical company.

Low-brow art form? Hold on to your popcorn, because he makes the point that “Bollywood would not exist if it were not for Shakespeare being presented in British India. Both traditions teach us valuable lessons about people and life, and that’s why they continue to connect so well”.

To prove his point, should you wish to spot the links, his East meets West dance drama riffs on The Taming Of The Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing and, for good measure, Oliver Goldsmith’s 1773 comedy She Stoops To Conquer.

In fact, Bring On The Bollywood stands up perfectly well in its own right, just as East Is East or The Kumars At No. 42 have done so too, but now the family frictions and sharp-edged humour come with the added delights of Bollywood romance, fabulous costumes by Bhamra himself, exhilarating music by Devesh Sodha, heartfelt lyrics by actor Robby Khela and flamboyant, joyous choreography by Dr Leena Patel, Sonia Sabri and Subhash Viman.

Dr Leena Patel’s own story, as both a talented dancer/choreographer and skilled doctor, were the inspiration for Bhamra’s “romantic riot of Anglo-Indian exuberance”. Here, Dr Katrina Pawar (Nisha Aaliya) has been living in London for 14 years when she is summoned to her ancestral home, the shabby Lakshman Villa, for the reluctant wedding of her younger brother, Lucky, (Anthony Sahota) and Rekha (Sophie Kandola).

Katrina’s parents, the Colonel (Rohit Gokani) and the aspirational, traditional Lalita (Sakuntala Ramanee), sense the chance to make a match for their smart and resolute daughter.

Enter handsome “Bollywood film director” Amit Kapoor (Yanick Ghanty) and his newly eligible British personal assistant Ronny Kapoor (Robby Khela), who Katrina had met on the flight over. The path of true love can never be smooth, of course, and myriad complications emerge, not least the arrival of Kangna (Avita Jay), a fly in the ointment for Robby.

In keeping with multiple Bollywood movies, the running time is a tad long, but everything is driven by crisp, well observed humour; the setpiece song-and-dance numbers are fantastic; the big ballads suitably big; the cast hugely engaging, Nisha Aaliya defying a leg injury more successfully than Andy Murray, Khela singing beautifully and Sahota full of mischief and hot moves. So, bring on the Bollywood, and bring back the Bollywood at York Theatre Royal, Samir Bhamra, whatever show you do next.

Bring On The Bollywood, Phizzical, York Theatre Royal, 7.30pm tonight and tomorrow; 2.30pm, 7.30pm Saturday. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk