Bursting onto the stage and straight into a dance routine, the valiant performers brought energy and enthusiasm to the fore in Rifco Arts/Watford Palace Theatre’s new production, Break The Floorboards.

Zain (Daniel Uppal) is a young man torn between family duty and his desire to boogie. Having just finished his exams, Zain is looking forward to cutting loose and enjoying some freedom but his older brother Adil (Nathan Clarke) wants him to help contribute to the family income and his mum (Sheena Patel) aspires to send him off to college. Only Sophie (Carrie Baxter), a dance tutor he meets at the local community centre, seems to know how he feels.

The scenes vacillate between Zain’s dreams and desires against a backdrop of an unfriendly, provincial English town where racism is rife.

Much of the action is conveyed through Andy Kumar and Maria Swainson’s pitch perfect choreography, which adeptly mixes classical Indian, Bollywood and street dance. Their brilliantly observed movement sweeps away the need for words as does Sumeet Chopra’s first-class tailor-made soundtrack, which deserves to top the music charts.

Of course it’s no wonder the team behind the runaway success of the achingly sharp Britain's Got Bhangra in 2011-12 are back with more of the same exuberant, thrilling theatre, but it is truly staggering how well all six actor/dancers perform.

Writer Yasmeen Khan and director Pravesh Kumar have honed a bitingly funny script that has the most well observed dialogue I’ve heard in a long, long time and the bounce and verve of the production leaves you feeling deeply invigorated. However, spoiler alert, the plot really is a variation on Billy Elliot, ‘Bolly Elliot’ as one of the characters jokes, which is a shame as I’m sure there are plenty of Asian writers out there itching to air original material.

Having said that, wannabe dance movies and musicals are very popular – Flashdance, Fame and A Chorus Line to name a few and the cultural issues the play deals with are unique to the show and insightful to the audience.

All in all, it’s a production with broad appeal across the age range and if this bright, vibrant, fun show can encourage more Asian writers, performers and creatives to get their work in the public eye then it has really served its purpose.


Melanie Dakin

Watford Palace until May 11.  Details: 01923 225671