Rifco Arts is a theatre company which focuses on bringing British Asian stories to the stage, and audiences from the community into theatres. The company was founded in 1999 by director
Pravesh Kumar.
Rifco is an
Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.
In June 2014 Rifco were further awarded funding by the
Arts Council for Creative People and Places project in Slough.
Well-known actors who have worked with Rifco include
Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of Hindi film, television and theatre. One of India's most acclaimed actresses, Azmi is known for her portrayals of distinctive, often unconventional female characters across several ge ...
,
Goldy Notay
Goldy Notay is a British-Canadian film, television and stage actress. She played 'Roopi' as the lead role in the Gurinder Chadha film ''It's A Wonderful Afterlife''. She has appeared as Shireen in the Mike Bartlett drama '' The Town'' and Amar ...
,
Ameet Chana
Ameet Chana (born 12 September 1975 in Epsom, Surrey, England) is a British-Indian actor. His most notable role is Adi Ferreira in '' EastEnders''.
In May 2006 he took over presenting the Breakdown Show (Bhangra Music) on BBC Asian Network ( ...
,
Shivani Ghai
Shivaani Ghai (born 25 April 1975) is an English actress.
Early life
Ghai is of Indian origin and was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. She grew up in Gosforth and attended Gosforth High School. Later, she went to university, where she gained a BA ...
,
Rik Makarem
Tarik Makarem (born 18 January 1982), is an English actor most famous for playing Nikhil Sharma in ''Emmerdale''.
Classically trained he is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama. He won a Laurence Olivier Bursary in 2004 ...
,
Harvey Virdi
Harvey Virdi is a British actress of Indian descent. She trained at Academy Drama School in London.
Career
Her theatre credits include ''The Borrowers'' (at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and larges ...
,
Simon Rivers
Simon Rivers (born Amardip Singh Nahal in 1978) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Kevin Tyler in the BBC soap opera ''Doctors''.
Life and career
Born in Birmingham, West Midlands to Sikh parents who had immigrated from th ...
and
Divian Ladwa
Divian Ladwa is an English actor best known for appearing in the Oscar nominated Best Picture '' Lion'', the BAFTA winning comedy series ''Detectorists'', and the Marvel Studios film ''Ant-Man and the Wasp''.
Career
TV and film
Divian La ...
.
The company runs an artist development programme for emerging and developing artists: Rifco Associates.
The company has been a resident theatre company at
Watford Palace Theatre
Watford Palace Theatre, opened in 1908, is an Edwardian Grade II listed building in Watford, Hertfordshire. The 600-seat theatre on Clarendon Road was refurbished in 2004. It houses its own rehearsal room, wardrobe, cafe and bar.
History
The ...
since 2011.
In November 2016 Rifco announced their tour for 2017 – Miss Meena & the Masala Queens. Written by Harvey Virdi.
Awards
* 2013, ''Break The Floorboards'' – winner of Best Live Event, Asian Media Awards 2013
* 2011, ''Britain's Got Bhangra'' – winner of People's Favourite Musical, Off West End Theatre Awards
* 2016, ''British Asian Festival'' – nominated for Best Live event and ''Laila The Musical'' nominated for Best Stage Production, Asian Media Awards 2016
* 2015, ''Happy Birthday Sunita'' – nominate for Best Stage Production, Asian Media Awards
Past productions
* 2016, ''Laila The Musical'', written by Pravesh Kumar, music by Sumeet Chopra, lyrics by Dougal Irvine
* 2016, ''British Asian Festival''
* 2015, 2006 & 2005, ''The Deranged Marriage'' by Pravesh Kumar
* 2014, ''Happy Birthday Sunita'' by
Harvey Virdi
Harvey Virdi is a British actress of Indian descent. She trained at Academy Drama School in London.
Career
Her theatre credits include ''The Borrowers'' (at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and larges ...
* 2014, British Asian Film Festival
* 2013, ''Break The Floorboards'' by Yasmin Khan
* 2010 & 2010, ''Britain's Got Bhangra'', written by Pravesh Kumar, music by Sumeet Chopra, lyrics by Dougal Irvine
* 2009, ''Where's My Desi Soulmate'' by Sonia Likhari and
Harvey Virdi
Harvey Virdi is a British actress of Indian descent. She trained at Academy Drama School in London.
Career
Her theatre credits include ''The Borrowers'' (at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and larges ...
* 2008, ''It Ain't All Bollywood'' by Pravesh Kumar
* 2007, ''There's Something About Simmy'' by Pravesh Kumar
* 2006, ''Meri Christmas'' by
Harvey Virdi
Harvey Virdi is a British actress of Indian descent. She trained at Academy Drama School in London.
Career
Her theatre credits include ''The Borrowers'' (at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and larges ...
* 2003 & 2000, ''Bollywood – Yet Another Love Story'' by Pravesh Kumar
* 1998 & 1999, ''Airport 2000'' by
Ajay Chhabra
Ajay Chhabra (born 28 November 1970) is a British television and theatre actor, director, producer and comedian of Indo-Fijian heritage, who is best known for playing Anil in ''The Basil Brush Show'', The Vicar, Suresh Mattai in the BBC Radio s ...
, Gurpreet Bhatti, Pravesh Kumar and
Harvey Virdi
Harvey Virdi is a British actress of Indian descent. She trained at Academy Drama School in London.
Career
Her theatre credits include ''The Borrowers'' (at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and larges ...
References
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Theatre companies in the United Kingdom