Sâmir Bhamra, founder and artistic director of Phizzical Productions and creative director of the UK Asian Film Festival, seamlessly blends performing arts and cinema in his groundbreaking work. In 2024, he will debut in the West-end with his musical “Bombay Superstars”.
A sought-after director, musical writer and producer, Sâmir champions South Asian and global majority artists, delivering 29 projects for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Cultural Olympiad and 12 projects during the pandemic as part of the UK City of Culture program. His impact extends to nurturing talent, launching careers and mentoring disabled artists. Sâmir’s writing credits include “Bring on the Bollywood” and “Precious Bazaar”. His directing prowess spans from Shakespearean classics like “Cymbeline” to immersive outdoor works like “The Arrival”.
Born in Kenya to a Sikh Punjabi mother and Muslim Sindhi father, Sâmir moved to the UK at 14. Despite a controversial family history, he carved his career independently, driven by a vision of uniting communities. Recognised with the British Indian Award, Sâmir serves on the boards of UK Theatre, Kadam, and Club Kali CIC, contributing to the advocacy of theatre in the UK and South Asian arts.
The Musical Theatre Writing Residency is a two-week international programme for emerging and established book writers, composers, and lyricists from the UK, India, and the United States.
The residency has been devised by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre, and will include facilitated sessions with Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare (formerly Director of New Work Development at The Public Theater), Music Supervisor James McKeon (Musical Director: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, London), Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director of Goodspeed Musicals, Connecticut and David Greig, Artistic Director of Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Shonagh Murray joins as Associate Musical Supervisor, with Imogen Stirling, supported by Playwright Studio Scotland, joining as Associate Dramaturg.
The creatives will also benefit from networking opportunities and workshop sessions, both in-person and digital, with industry-leading writers, composers, producers, directors, and other theatre practitioners – including Tony® Award-winning director John Doyle, Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning producer Mara Isaacs, Tony® Award-winning producer Rashad V. Chambers, and more.
Presented by Cove Park and Dundee Rep Theatre in partnership with Capital Theatres, Citizens Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, National Centre for the Performing Arts – Mumbai, National Theatre of Scotland, Octopus Theatricals – New York City, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, and Traverse Theatre. Associate partners include A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, and Tron Theatre.
