Energetic new musical Bhangra Nation, which premiered in San Diego in 2022, has now made its UK debut at The Rep, Birmingham. Set in Michigan, the story follows a university’s Bhangra dance group, as they compete for the national top spot.

The drama comes from two of the performers’ contrasting dance ideals, with Mary (Jena Pandya) hoping to widen the group’s remit to include different styles of dance and honour her mother’s heritage, while Preeti (Zaynah Ahmed) wants to get rid of all outside influences and present pure Bhangra, for similar reasons. Mary forms a separate group, meaning that each dancer can follow their dreams in their own way.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of American ‘contest’ films might recognise some tropes of the genre in the events that follow. Mary’s rag-tag group of Bhangra misfits learn the art form from ex-dancer and restaurateur Rekha (Sohm Kapila), find a loophole allowing them to perform at the nationals, get into a scuffle with Preeti’s gang over creative differences, and squeeze in a love story, before it all ends with a huge dance number.

The dance performances are undoubtedly the show’s highlight, led by some spectacular moves from Dance Captain Kuldeep Goswami. It’s no surprise that the audience were on their feet after the big finale, inspired by the iconic beat of two Dhol drums, a live band, and vibrant costumes. However, the Bhangra-inspired numbers are interspersed with musical theatre ballads which fall flat in comparison, and the storytelling is often awkward and heavy-handed.

All of the performances are full of life, although there’s room for them to tighten up, and there are several touching moments when characters are given a moment to shine. The love story of Mary and Billy (Iván Fernández González), told through text messages in ‘Dot Dot Dot’, is successfully sweet and endearing. ‘Khaana Khaana’, Rekha’s opening number, in which she is surrounded by dancing delivery boys, offers an introduction to her witty, flamboyant character - she gets some of the best lines in the show.

Dynamic visuals complement the sights and sounds of dance, and while the plot is fairly unoriginal, the show’s visual spectacle makes it worth a watch, with innovative projection filling the stage, and lush, expansive set design that’s full of surprises. It’s a joy to see Bhangra being celebrated in a large-scale production.

Four Stars

Reviewed by Jessica Clixby at The Rep, Birmingham, on Tuesday 27 February. Bhangra Nation continues to show at the venue until Saturday 16 March.