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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.
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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Shamima has eight years of experience in marketing and communications within the arts and cultural sectors, working with organisations such as Leeds Playhouse, Yorkshire Dance, Phoenix Dance Theatre, The Amplify Project, Horizon Showcase, and Fuel.
Before her career in the arts, she completed a BA in English Literature and Masters Degree in Postcolonial Literary and Cultural Studies from the University of Leeds. Shamima is a CLORE Leadership Emerging Leader (Cohort 2021), a Creative Access Alumni, and a member representative for the Arts Marketing Association. She is thrilled to be returning to Rifco, having previously worked with the company during the pandemic.
She is also a freelance writer and has written articles, essays and programme materials for organisations such as Leeds Playhouse, Opera North, Wasifiri and Phoenix Dance Theatre.
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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.