Rifco Theatre Company

Rifco Theatre Company is a touring theatre company based in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, which focuses on bringing British South Asian stories to the stage, and audiences from the community into theatres.[1] The company was founded in 1999 by director and writer Pravesh Kumar, the current artistic director, and is based in Watford Palace Theatre.[2]

Company history

Rifco was founded in 1999 when Kumar devised and acted in comedy sketch show Airport 2000: Asians in Transit, alongside Ajay Chhabra, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and Harvey Virdi.[3] It initially played three sell out shows at Riverside Studios, and Kumar describes this as 'the accidental birth of Rifco'.[4]

Since its inception, Rifco have toured nineteen original productions across the UK, with its twentieth touring in the Autumn of 2025.[5]

Since 2013, Rifco have created a number of web series which broadcast across their social media. These range from sketch comedies to documentary shorts.[6]

In 2015, Rifco launched their Associates programme which aims to nurture and uplift emerging British South Asian creatives.[7]

In 2018, Ameet Chana was appointed Associate Director of the company.[8]

Notable actors who have worked with Rifco include Shabana Azmi, Divya Seth Shah, Tez Ilyas, Navin Kundra, Harvey Virdi and Divian Ladwa.[9]

Rifco is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.[10]

Past productions

Year Title Writer Director Notes Ref.
1999 Airport 2000 - Asians In Transit Ajay Chhabra, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Pravesh Kumar and Harvey Virdi Collaborative [11]
2000

2003

 Bollywood 2000 - Yet Another Love Story Pravesh Kumar Pravesh Kumar [12]
2005 The Deranged Marriage Pravesh Kumar [13]
2006 Meri Christmas Harvey Virdi [14]
2007 There's Something About Simmy Pravesh Kumar Co-produced with Theatre Royal Stratford East [15]
2009 Where's My Desi Soulmate? Sonia Likhari, Harvey Virdi [16]
2011 Britain's Got Bhangra Pravesh Kumar (book), Dougal Irvine (lyrics), Sumeet Chopra (composer) Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre and Warwick Arts Centre [17]
2013 Break The Floorboards Yasmeen Khan Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre [18]
2014 Happy Birthday Sunita Harvey Virdi Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre, in association with Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton [19]
2015 The Deranged Marriage (revival) Pravesh Kumar Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre [20]
2016 Laila The Musical Pravesh Kumar (book), Dougal Irvine (lyrics), Sumeet Chopra (composer) Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre and Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch [21]
2017 Miss Meena and the Masala Queens Harvey Virdi Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre, in association with Warwick Arts Centre [22]
Pyar Actually Sukh Ojla [23]
2018 Dishoom! Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre and Oldham Coliseum Theatre [24]
2019 Mushy: Lyrically Speaking Pravesh Kumar (book), Raxstar (lyrics), Niraj Chag (composer) Ameet Chana [25]
2022 Abigail's Party Mike Leigh Pravesh Kumar Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre [26]
Glitterball Yasmin Wilde Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre [27]
2023 Happy Birthday Sunita (revival) Harvey Virdi Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre [28]
2024 Frankie Goes To Bollywood Pravesh Kumar (book), Niraj Chag (songs and music), Tasha Taylor-Johnson (songs and lyrics) Co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre and HOME Manchester [29]
Pali and Jay's Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow Viraj Juneja Ameet Chana [30]
2025 Surinderella Pravesh Kumar Co-produced with Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, in association with Imagine Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre [31]

Digital shows

  • Mummy Ji Presents (2012)[32]
  • Young Asian Comedy Workshop (2016)[33]
  • The Desi Lockdown (2020)[34]
  • Leave The Plastic On (2021, 2 series)[35]
  • GenerAsians - The Ugandan Expulsion (2022)[36]

Awards

Year Award Nominated work Category Result Ref.
2011 Offie Britain's Got Bhangra People's Favourite Musical Won [37]
2022 Glitterball Most Promising Playwright Nominated [38]
2024 Frankie Goes To Bollywood Costume Design Nominated [39]
Lighting Design Nominated [40]
2013 Asian Media Awards Break The Floorboards Best Live Event Won [41]
2015 Happy Birthday Sunita Best Stage Production Nominated [42]
2016 Laila The Musical Best Stage Production Nominated [43]
2017 Miss Meena and the Masala Queens Best Stage Production Nominated [44]
2024 Frankie Goes To Bollywood Outstanding Stage Performance (Laila Zaidi) Nominated [45]
Best Stage Production Nominated [46]
Pali and Jay's Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow Best Live Event Nominated [47]

References

  1. ↑ "The company". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  2. ↑ "About". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  3. ↑ Rifco Theatre (2012-11-21). Theatre: Airport 2000 - Rifco's first production. Retrieved 2025-04-10 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ Sherwood, Harriet (2022-01-08). "Appoint people of colour to senior theatre roles, British Asian artistic director says". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  5. ↑ "Live shows". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  6. ↑ "Digital shows". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  7. ↑ "Rifco associates". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  8. ↑ "Rifco appoints Associate Director - Arts Professional". 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  9. ↑ "Live shows". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  10. ↑ "Arts Council funding: Cultural groups in East of England get £71m". BBC News. 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  11. ↑ "Airport 2000 - Asians In Transit". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  12. ↑ "Bollywood 2000 - Yet Another Love Story". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  13. ↑ "The Deranged Marriage (2005)". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  14. ↑ "Meri Christmas". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  15. ↑ "There's Something About Simmy". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  16. ↑ "Where's My Desi Soulmate?". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  17. ↑ "Britain's Got Bhangra". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  18. ↑ "Break The Floorboards". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  19. ↑ "Happy Birthday Sunita". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  20. ↑ "The Deranged Marriage". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  21. ↑ "Laila The Musical". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  22. ↑ "Miss Meena and the Masala Queens". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  23. ↑ "Pyar Actually". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  24. ↑ "Dishoom!". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  25. ↑ "Mushy: Lyrically Speaking". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  26. ↑ "Abigail's Party". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  27. ↑ "Glitterball". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  28. ↑ "Happy Birthday Sunita - 2023 Tour". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  29. ↑ "Frankie Goes to Bollywood". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  30. ↑ "Pali and Jay's Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  31. ↑ "Surinderella". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  32. ↑ "MummyJi Presents 2012". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  33. ↑ "WATCH: Five fantastic new comedy sketches from aspiring British Asian writers". Asian Image. 2016-11-30. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  34. ↑ "The Desi Lockdown, Rifco Theatre". Morning Star. 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  35. ↑ Guide, British Comedy. "Leave The Plastic On: Series 1, Episode 1 - Maacho And Dads'". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  36. ↑ "GenerAsians". YouTube. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  37. ↑ "The Off West End Theatre Awards 2011 |". 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  38. ↑ "Glitterball nominated for 3 Offie awards". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  39. ↑ "Frankie Goes to Bollywood". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  40. ↑ "Frankie Goes to Bollywood". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  41. ↑ "Asian Media Awards Shortlist Unveiled At City Hall". Asian Media Awards. 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  42. ↑ "Asian Media Awards 2015 Shortlist". Asian Media Awards. 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  43. ↑ "Asian Media Awards 2016 Finalists". Asian Media Awards. 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  44. ↑ "Best Stage Production 2017: British Asian Stories Brought To Life". Asian Media Awards. 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  45. ↑ "Laila Zaidi nominated for Asian Media Award!". Sue Terry Voices. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  46. ↑ "Frankie Goes to Bollywood". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  47. ↑ "Pali and Jay's Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow". Rifco Theatre. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
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