Rifco Theatre Company
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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
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] |