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Pravesh Kumar MBE is the Artistic Director and Chief Executive of award winning Rifco Theatre Company. He started the company in 2000 to make a different kind of theatre for a community that could not see themselves represented on English stages. He has been at the forefront of bringing new British South Asian audiences into theatres in their thousands, often for the first time by making entertaining and accessible theatre.
Pravesh has a background in film and worked in the commercial Indian film industry often called Bollywood for many years. His theatrical directorial debut was in 2000 with a UK tour of Bollywood - Yet Another Love Story. He has gone on to achieve critical acclaim for Rifco’s productions.
His short film, Gods on Mountains was nominated for the Satyajit Ray Short Film Award. Pravesh is currently writing an ambitious new main stage musical and his debut feature film Little English, based on a Rifco play, premiered at London Indian Film Festival at BFI Southbank to sold out screenings.
Pravesh leads on the Rifco Associates programme finding new British South Asian voices of the future. Pravesh was awarded an MBE for services in theatre in the New Year Honours List 2022.
Ameet has been a professional actor in the UK for over 27 years with credits that range from appearing on stage for the Royal National Theatre to playing a principal character in the BBC’s flagship soap opera Eastenders for over 2 years. Some film credits include feature films Bend it Like Beckham, Run Fatboy Run and the Black Prince.
In 2009 he trained as a Director / Film Maker at The New York Film Academy (Los Angeles Campus). He has worked extensively with Rifco Theatre Company as a trainee director through their Rifco Associates programme, curating the British Asian Festival in 2016 and as a Director and Assistant Director on new works including Pyar Actually, Laila and Back in the Daytimers. Ameet has recently been appointed Associate Director to the company, a new role which will steer the Associates programme and lead the digital arm of the company’s work.
Ameet can currently be seen in Life of Pi in the West End.
George worked as a script developer for Scottish Screen, Summit Entertainment (now Lionsgate), Nutopia, and Sky Drama, before literally running away to join the circus and producing for worldwide sensation Gandini Juggling from 2015-2018. His subsequent career has included work with puppet musical makers Monstro Theatre, new writing specialists Metal Rabbit, and sonic theatre company ERRATICA, for whom he also produces the podcast Soundwolds. He has toured productions across the USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia and holds a diploma in script development from the National Film and TV School.
Phoebe has worked in a variety of roles in theatre venues across the UK. Her latest work as an Administrator has been at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and with leading reggae music and arts development agency, Simmer Down Arts. She also has a passion for working backstage, most recently having worked as Company Stage Manager at Chipping Norton Theatre, and touring as Technical Stage Manager with The Mad Hatter's Circus.
Sue has worked in the theatre industry for over 25 years, predominantly in development, sponsorship, partnertships, and events. She has held senior development and sponsorship roles for the Ambassador Theatre Group, First Family Entertainment, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Cambridge Arts Theatre and English Touring Theatre. Sue has managed income generation projects for the National Theatre, Arts Quarter, Polka Theatre, South Hill Park, and The Other Palace (Really Useful Group), and managed the USA patrons and events programme for Shakespeare’s Globe.
She has produced and co-produced work for the Brighton Fringe, London’s Park Theatre, and a number of regional theatres and is a Board member of Metta Theatre. In a two-year career blip she also worked with the AIG team on the global rollout of their Manchester United sponsorship benefits. She fully intends never to work in football again!
Prior to gaining a Masters in Creative Producing, Amy initially trained in Musical Theatre, graduating with First Class Honours in 2019. Since then, Amy has worked in various roles across the Theatre sector, including Creative Learning Producer at Richmond Theatre, part of the Ambassador Theatre Group.
Amy is proud to have now joined the team at Rifco in the role of Producer, working on some very exciting projects with the team.
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Becky has worked on strategic marketing and communications campaigns for a variety of arts and not-for-profit organisations. Recent projects include the Birmingham 2022 Festival, helping to deliver more than 300 cultural events across the West Midlands, and creatively leading on fundraising campaigns for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
Becky is excited to champion original arts projects and bring in new audiences in her role at Rifco.
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A published poet, trained dancer, and theatre busybody, Nidhi graduated with an MA in Dramaturgy and Writing for Performance from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2022. Her works-in-progress have been staged at the Soho Theatre and Omnibus Theatre in London, and she has dramaturgically supported award-winning playwrights for work taken up to the Edinburgh Fringe. As with most theatre practitioners, Nidhi's career is a 'double act' - besides working with new writing/writers, she has worked with Neon Performing Arts and Bland PR in social media and press roles. She is excited to work at the juncture of media and the arts to connect with Rifco's wide and diverse audiences.
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Hari has been involved in theatre for over 10 years, both behind the scenes and onstage. With Apollo Theatre Arts he worked as the company’s social media manager and content creator, and previously was School Services Coordinator for Roedean School.
As an actor, Hari has performed at the National Theatre, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and the Brighton Fringe.
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Jhanky has worked at Watford Palace Theatre for over 8 years in customer service and admin roles. She is incredibly passionate about Indian dance, and has performed in both personal and professional events (Rangeelu Gujarat 2023). Jhanky graduated with a BA in Photography, with a focus on architecture and fashion photography.
Jhanky is excited to be joining Rifco Theatre Company as Production Assistant on Frankie Goes To Bollywood.