Stratford East will host a South Asian Summer festival from 8 to 18 July 2026, presenting a diverse programme of theatre, live music, comedy and cabaret. The event offers a platform for stories and performances exploring history, identity and cultural heritage.

The festival opens on 8 July with Kanpur: 1857, written by and starring Niall Moorjani and co-directed by and starring Jonathan Oldfield. The show, returning to London after previous runs, satirises the 1857 uprising against British colonial rule, engaging themes of conflict, gender and authorship.

From 10 to 14 July, Boundless Theatre in association with Tamasha presents Blue Mist, a play by Mohamed-Zain Dada directed by Milli Bhatia. The narrative centres on three friends and a young journalist confronting community pressures, media portrayal and personal ambition.

On 15 July, comedy night Brown Sauce will feature performers yet to be announced, following a history of appearances by Nish Kumar, Mawaan Rizwan, Sindhu Vee and Ahir Shah.

Say Shava Shava, staged on 16 July, celebrates 25 years since the release of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham with a concert-style show inspired by its soundtrack. The production incorporates live vocals, choreography and visual elements to revisit the film’s themes of family and celebration.

Music continues on 17 July with Qawwali Live by the Hussain Brothers Qawwali Group, led by Ashaz Hussain. The performance spans classical Sufi qawwali through contemporary styles, linked to the legacy of poet Amir Khusro.

The festival concludes on 18 July with Heeramandi, a collaboration between Amina Khayyam Dance Company and Insaan Arts. This production explores the history of Lahore’s Heeramandi district, blending dance, music and cabaret to examine the courtesans’ legacy and colonial cultural impacts.

This South Asian Summer festival at Stratford East represents a multifaceted engagement with South Asian cultural narratives through a range of artistic forms, reflecting ongoing dialogues around history, identity and community in contemporary theatre and performance.