The Deranged Marriage - About the play

Rishi and Sona have just met, now they’re getting married and although this was their decision, the whirlwind wedding circus is on the move without them.…

While their frenzied families race to ensure this is the most elaborate wedding Slough has ever seen, the young couple’s cold feet threaten to enter the wedding mandap; and while the missing ladoos continue to cause mayhem, years of family conflict bubbling under the surface looks likely to spill over. In the midst of the glittering jewels and spectacular saris, crooning aunties and drunken uncles, is the reason behind it all being lost?

After the sell out success last year of The Deranged Marriage, RIFCO Arts welcomes you to the grandest, most elaborate and extravagant wedding of 2005. Take your place in the wedding procession to celebrate the British Asian arranged marriage system in all its toe tapping, sari swirling, heart-wrenching glory.

The Deranged Marriage provides a fresh look at the Asian marriage system with a uniquely British twist and welcomes the audience as wedding guests to take their part in the fun, tears, drama and chaos of the 'Big Day'. RIFCO Arts explore the relationship between tradition and conformity and ask whether British Asian adults can still observe the ancient tradition of arranged marriages within their modern lives?

Extracts from some reviews

The Deranged Marriage brings together some of the best in British Asian talent, with a fantastic cast including Harvey Virdi (Bride & Prejudice, Bend it Like Beckham) and Pooja Shah (Eastenders); music from the King of Bhangra, Kuljit Bhamra (The Far Pavilions, Bombay Dreams); hip gyrating dance from Bollywood choreographer Andy Kumar (Page 3, Kalion Ka Chaman); baked together into a perfect heart shaped wedding cake by Writer/Director, Pravesh Kumar (Bollywood –Yet Another Love Story).
Lucy Powell, from Time Out

You’ll still enjoy Shaheen Khan’s ballad accompaniments and a cast that includes Goldy Notay as the formidably snobbish Lata, a P. G. Wodehouse aunt in a sari who still spurns her son’s non-Asian wife (Louiza Patikas), and Pooja Shah as the reluctant bride.
Ian Johns - The Times

Pooja Shah (Kareena from "Eastenders") gave a stirling performance as the tormented Sona and made a beautiful bride to be. Rupi Lal also was eminently believable as her proposed husband to be Rishi. Goldy Notay led the way in the humour stakes and proved to be a comic genius as the tyrannical Lata, delivering her lines with perfect comic timing and killer facial expressions. In this respect she was ably assisted by Rina Fatania and Ambur Khan who were each superbly funny as Kiran and Sangeeta respectively. There were some good comic performances from the men also, particularly in the form of Simon Nagra as Lata's long-suffering husband Bali, and Rupi Lal in his secondary role as the hapless Sunny. Javed Malik played Chaman, the grown-up son still struggling to untangle himself from Lata's apron strings, ably assisted by Louiza Patikas as his caucasian wife Jenny, desperate to gain Lata's approval. 'Straight' acting credits go to Harvey Verdi as the much put upon Hema, always subordinating her own needs to those of the family. Pasha Bocarie gave a good performance as Mahesh whilst Sharona Sassoon provided more classic comedy as the groom's mother Pramila. Last but by no means least, Shaheen Khan played the role of Baby and treated us to her beautiful singing voice throughout.
Modern theatre Review

There are some fine performances, notably from Goldy Notay as Lata, the domineering and snobbish aunt, Pooja Shah as the reluctant bride, Harvey Virdi as her widowed mother and Simon Nagra as her uncomprehending uncle. Ambur Khan as the irrepressible Sangeeta is a comic genius and a joy to watch and the solo singing of Shaheen Khan is true and haunting.
Pat Ashworth - The Stage