 | | Nichola Burley and the community chorus |
Bollywood Jane brings sequins and saris to the stage at the West Yorkshire Playhouse - with a VERY strong Bradford flavour. It's what's described as 'a bittersweet drama with Bollywood sequences' which are brought to life with glittering song and dance numbers, but the really exciting thing is that these numbers are all performed by a twenty-strong community chorus of singers and dancers from right on our doorstep. In fact, they were talent-spotted after a number of public auditions in both Bradford and Leeds! Not only that, but all the action of Bollywood Jane's been moved from its original home in Leicester to Bradford. The play itself follows the story of disenchanted teenager Jane, played by Leeds' very own Nichola Burley, who discovers that the romance, music and extravagance of Bollywood cinema gives her something new and special in her life! Written by Amanda Whittington, it's part of the official Fringe of the IIFA Awards which are causing so much excitement just now across Yorkshire. So, who better to tell us more about what Bollywood Jane's all about than Amanda herself?ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Amanda, Bollywood Jane's been relocated from Leicester to Bradford for this production. Why did you decide to do that?
 | | Victor Gardener and Darren Kuppan |
It was too good an opportunity to miss!Ìý The themes of the play felt as relevant to Bradford as they did to the original setting of Leicester and I thought relocating the play would make it have more impact on a Yorkshire audience.ÌýI wanted to rewrite elements of the story anyway, so I thought I'd pack up the characters and move them all north! The idea's clearly been to keep things very 'local' with thisÌý production of Bollywood Jane, what with the auditions for the community chorus in Bradford and Leeds earlier this year and the fact that it's a West Yorkshire actress taking the lead role. Why did youÌý decide to do take that approach? We weren't actively seeking a local girl for Jane but when Nichola auditioned, she blew us away.Ìý She was cast because she's an extraordinarily gifted actress and her coming from Leeds was the icing on the cake. We wanted a big chorus of dancers so we could do the musical numbers with in true Bollywood style.Ìý And having local dancers bring the Bollywood routines to life feels very much in the spirit of the play. Is it a risk to get people from 'out there' on the stage - or is that actually part of the appeal? It didn't feel like a risk because the people who came along were so committed and talented. The chorus were treated as professionals and they've certainly risen to the challenge.ÌýSome of them had never danced before and to see how they've grown and developed over the last couple of months has been remarkable. There's a sense of achievement which does give the show a unique kind of energy and what I think audiences also like is that they're 'real people' up there, which gives the show authenticity. How did you research this play? You must have had to sit through any number of hours of Bollywood films to get things right! | "Bollywood has been around for decades and I'm sure British Asians don't see it as up-and-coming at all.Ìý" | | Amanda Whittington |
Yes, it's a tough job but someone has to do it!ÌýI watched films, listened to music, read books and talked to Bollywood fans.ÌýI spent a lot of time thinking about how the films worked, what the essential elements were and how we could translate them into theatre.ÌýIt was a real voyage of discovery for me and I tried to reflect that in Jane's character.ÌýShe was my way into writing about a world which was alien to me but absolutely fascinating. What is it about Bollywood - the sequins and saris as the publicity material puts it! - that's so attractive to so many millions of people across the world? I think the glamour can draw people in but I would say the main attraction is the fact that Bollywood films feature huge, epic storylines which are crafted along very traditional lines.ÌýThey deal with the big themes of life: love, desire, dreams, family, identity and morality.Ìý Good is rewarded, bad is punished and the lead characters ultimately find their heart's desire. It's a contemporary way of telling classic stories. Bollywood certainly seems to be the up-and-coming thing just now -Ìý emphasised by the fact we've got the IIFA awards in Yorkshire just now. Why do you think that is? Has its time just 'come' or do you think it says something more about British society in 2007?
 | | Nichola in rehearsal for 'Jane' |
The only thing that surprises me is it's been such a long time coming! Bollywood has been around for decades and I'm sure British Asians don't see it as up-and-coming at all.ÌýThe western media have picked up on it and labelled it as the next big thing but actually they're catching up with what the rest of the world has known for years! If there's one thing, one message, that people go away with when they've seen Bollywood Jane what do you hope it will be? We live in a world full of conflict but, ultimately, the play celebrates what we have in common rather than what divides us.ÌýI hope that feeling of unity and togetherness is what people take away with them... Bollywood Jane runs at the West Yorkshire Playhouse until 30th June 2007. All pics on this page © Keith Pattison. | 
