Stratford East announces South Asian Summer festival of shows

Stratford East has announced a programme of South Asian work running from 8 to 18 July 2026, bringing together theatre, live music, comedy and cabaret across ten days.

The line-up opens with Kanpur: 1857 on 8 July, written by and starring Niall Moorjani and co-directed by and starring Jonathan Oldfield. The production returns to London following previous runs and is based on events surrounding the 1857 uprising against British colonial rule, using satire to explore questions of conflict, gender and authorship.

From 10 to 14 July, Blue Mist will be presented by Boundless Theatre in association with Tamasha. Written by Mohamed-Zain Dada and directed by Milli Bhatia, the play follows three friends navigating community, media representation and ambition, centred around a young journalist attempting to tell his own story.

Comedy night Brown Sauce follows on 15 July. Previous performers have included Nish Kumar, Mawaan Rizwan, Sindhu Vee and Ahir Shah, with the full line-up for this event to be announced.

On 16 July, Say Shava Shava marks 25 years since the release of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham with a concert-style performance inspired by its soundtrack. The production combines live vocals, choreography and visual elements to revisit songs associated with the film’s themes of family and celebration.

Music continues on 17 July with Qawwali Live, performed by the Hussain Brothers Qawwali Group. Led by Ashaz Hussain, the evening will move from classical Sufi qawwali to contemporary pieces, drawing on a lineage connected to the poet Amir Khusro.

The programme concludes on 18 July with Heeramandi, presented by Amina Khayyam Dance Company in collaboration with Insaan Arts. The production draws on the history of Lahore’s Heeramandi district, combining dance, music and cabaret performance to examine the legacy of courtesans and the cultural impact of colonial rule.