A NEW dance-theatre extravaganza that brings the colour, vibrancy and beauty of classic Bollywood, will shimmy into Dorset next week.

Inspired by classic Indian cinema, Bring On The Bollywood revels in the shared dramatic heritage between the UK and India, as well as contemporary British Asian influences.

Samir Bhamra, the show’s director explains: “Bollywood’ is widely perceived to be a low-brow art-form that requires no skill. Not only is it - in my experience - the hardest art form to crack, but it shares more than people realise with the classical Western arts.

“Bollywood would not exist if it were not for Shakespeare being presented in British India, and soon adapted into local languages for the wider communities. Both traditions teach us valuable lessons about people and life, and that’s why they continue to connect so well.”

Bring On The Bollywood is a love letter to traditional Bollywood, innovated for musical theatre aficionados and contemporary Bollywood lovers alike.

Reflected in its casting, the fiery heroine Dr. Katrina Pawar will be played by newcomer Nisha Aaliya. Selected from hundreds of auditionees, Nisha was discovered in the unlikeliest of circumstances when she attended auditions as a choreographic assistant.

Samir adds: “By urging her to audition herself, we have unearthed an exceptional acting talent.” However, like the majority of young South Asian performers, her only outlets for professional showcasing have been the Bollywood dance competitions. Without clearly defined pathways, formal training, and a diversity of roles, such talents can surely only rely on the chance few musicals that focus on Asian culture for a route into the West End.”

Joining Nisha is Avita Jay (Kangna), whose many theatre credits include: Spare (New Diorama Theatre), Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World (Southwark Playhouse, Battersea Arts Centre), Rapunzel (Park Theatre) and Silent Sisters (Hawth Theatre).

Anthony Sahota will play the part of Katrina’s mischievous, betrothed brother, Lucky. Having recently starred as a finalist on Gary Barlow’s Let It Shine (BBC One), Anthony makes his professional acting debut alongside Robby Khela (Ronny). Robby Khela’s work in music has seen him support pop acts such as Craig David, Blue, Lemar, Girls Aloud and Misteeq on tour. He re-joins Phizzical Productions for Bring On The Bollywood, having previously appeared in their national tour of What You Fancy (2007), a Bollywood adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Twelfth Night.

Bring on the Bollywood is at Lighthouse, Poole from Thursday, June 29 to Saturday, July 1 at 7.45pm.

A free post-show talk follows the performance on Thursday. Tickets £21. Call 01202 280000 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk