REVIEW: FRANKIE GOES TO BOLLYWOOD @ THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR

🎭 Frankie Goes To Bollywood

📍 Theatre Royal Windsor, 32 Thames Street, Windsor, SL4 1PS

🗓 Tuesday 19th May 2026

⭐️ 3 Stars

A MILDLY SPICED MASALA

Arriving in Windsor is always an absolute joy. There is something utterly magical about stepping into such a beautiful town, with the breathtaking, dominating presence of the castle framing the horizon. It sets the perfect, dramatic backdrop for a night at the theatre, and this week, the gorgeous Theatre Royal Windsor is hosting something truly vibrant.

As a massive fan of Bollywood dancing, I had been looking forward to seeing FRANKIE GOES TO BOLLYWOOD for a while. I adore the way it uses movement to tell a story - the passion, the rhythm, the sheer storytelling power of it all. This production comes from Rifco Theatre Company, a vital and incredibly important force in British theatre that dedicates itself to celebrating and reflecting British Asian contemporary experiences.

This specific evening, however, carried an immense, beautiful poignancy. Rifco’s Artistic Director, Pravesh Kumar, recently lost his mother. Theatre Royal Windsor was a venue she used to visit often, and sitting in the audience tonight alongside members of her family - and the very medical professionals who had so lovingly nursed her - felt deeply moving. The love and legacy in the room were palpable.

The show itself is crafted in the classic style of a Masala Film. In Indian cinema, "Masala" means a mix of everything - a spicy blend of romance, melodrama, comedy, action, and musical numbers all thrown into one pot. It is a genre designed to hit every emotion, and it serves as the perfect vehicle for Frankie's journey from Huddersfield to the glittering chaos of Mumbai.

However, while the premise of the show is undeniably strong, Pravesh Kumar’s book struggles to give any real depth to the characters for the most part. Everything on stage seems to stay quite surface-level. By the time the interval rolled around, I found that I didn’t really care about the characters, and therefore wasn't particularly bothered about what happened to them. I do have to say, thankfully, that the character development was much stronger and more engaging in the second half.

Technically, the production was a bit of a mixed bag. Rebecca Brower’s set design was pretty simplistic, but it actually worked quite well. It paired beautifully with Philip Gladwell’s lighting design, which was nothing short of stunning. The lighting during the big dance numbers was spectacular, easily making it the undisputed star of the show. I also appreciated how the proscenium transitioned from looking relatively dull and lifeless in England, to being vibrant, colourful, and full of life in India

The element that really let the production down, unfortunately, was the sound. The music frequently drowned out the vocals, meaning I often missed the vital meaning behind the songs. This was most frustrating during the final song; it felt like a defiant, incredibly important moment, yet the vocals were completely missed in the mix. It’s a real shame, especially because the lyrics I could make out were actually much stronger than the spoken dialogue.

Visually, Andy Kumar’s costumes for the leads were dazzling and felt wonderfully authentic. I just wish that same energy had been brought to the ensemble. For most of the show, the ensemble performers were left in plain black outfits, which felt incredibly dull against the dazzling Bollywood backdrop.

Performance-wise, I wasn't completely sold on everyone. A few performers seemed to struggle with the vocals - not to say they are bad singers by any means, but rather that their vocal styles felt wrong for these specific, demanding songs.

There were, however, some magnificent standout performers. I completely fell in love with Katie Stasi as Goldy, the cousin left behind in the UK. She brought an incredible balance of confident flair and raw vulnerability, backed by a gorgeous vocal full of light and shade. Luke Suri absolutely dazzled with a gloriously camp charisma, demanding your attention the second he stepped out and commanding the stage completely. You feel completely safe listening to him sing; he effortlessly belts out massive numbers, rightfully receiving a huge, roaring applause for his opening number in Act 2. And talking of fantastic vocals, Meher Pavri possessed an absolutely stunning voice that was a pure joy to listen to.

As for the choreography, it was highly enjoyable to watch and is undoubtedly the main reason so many people have booked their tickets. That said, the execution just needed to be a little tighter at points. There is absolutely no denying that this company can dance, but I just wanted the synchronisation to be sharper. This is common during any show's run, so just needs a quick refresh from an associate choreographer to bring it back to its full glory.

Even though this is a bit of a mixed review, I did genuinely enjoy the show. It really found its rhythm during Act 2, and I heavily applaud the inclusion of such strong female characters standing in fierce defiance against the misogynistic industry they find themselves in. The production cleverly combines the cultural importance of the piece with the demands of a western audience, even if it does fell a bit panto at times.

There's no doubt that this show is visually stunning, and it is an enjoyable night out; just don't expect a strong storyline. A three-star rating from me is defined as good but flawed, and this perfectly sums up my feelings of FRANKIE GOES TO BOLLYWOOD.

If you're interested in making your own mind up about this show, then it's playing at Theatre Royal Windsor until Saturday 23rd May. CLICK HERE to find out more about the show, check availability, and book tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair, and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Frankie Goes To Bollywood was gifted by Theatre Royal Windsor who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Sarah Pearson as Frankie; Akshay Datta as Prem; Meher Pavri as Malika / Maa; Ankur Sabharwal as Raju King; Katie Stasi as Goldy / Mummy; Luke Suri as Shona; Kiran Kaanan as Timmy Anand / Ensemble; Neelam Rajni as Mandy / Ensemble; Anna Maria Barber as Rosie / Ensemble; Dhruv Ravi as Hasmukh Bhai / Ensemble; Elinor Hallett as Young Frankie / Ensemble; Tash Bacarese-Hamilton as Ensemble; Harry Brooks as Ensemble; Aron Rhode as Ensemble; Marina Lawrence-Mahrra as Swing

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 20 minutes, including interval

AGE GUIDANCE:

8+

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