Sampad unveils season of theatre, dance and a Diwali walk on Stratford Road

A new play about a teenager who turns to artificial intelligence for emotional support, a Diwali walking tour of Stratford Road and a homecoming performance by the dancer Vidya Patel are among the highlights of Sampad's new season in Birmingham.

Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage, which is based in the city, has announced its programme for 2026/27, mixing theatre, walking tours, live music and dance.

A play about AI and mental health

The season opens with Can We Talk?, which will be staged as part of the BEDLAM Arts and Mental Health Symposium on 6 and 7 November. The 30-minute production was written by Rochi Rampal and developed with young people, parents, headteachers and mental health professionals.

Set in a British South Asian family, it follows a teenager who confides in an AI chatbot instead of talking to the people around them, and explores mental health, communication and the effect of technology on relationships across the generations.

Diwali on Stratford Road

On 7 November, Sampad's regular Stratford Road walking tour will take on a Diwali theme. The tour explores the shops, food, traditions and migration stories of one of the city's busiest high streets, with stops at Asian grocers, a Hindu temple, a wedding superstore and a Yemeni restaurant.

Sustainable fashion is the theme of a Chai and Chat event on 12 November, run with Birmingham Back to Backs. The entrepreneur Rukhsana Sardar will talk about leaving an international career in fast fashion to set up an upcycling business. Participants are invited to bring along their own upcycling projects for advice.

Vidya Patel comes home

Dance audiences will be able to see Vidya Patel perform in her home city. The Birmingham-born choreographer, who trained in the classical Indian form Kathak, will bring together classical and contemporary dance and music, joined by the dancers Shreya Vathsa and Shriya Sharma.

Sampad's Midday Mantra series of lunchtime concerts also returns in November with a celebration of Bangla music and dance, led by the singer and multi-instrumentalist Amith Dey and featuring the Bangladeshi vocalist Abanti Sithi. The series continues through 2027, with New Year, New Sounds in January, Love Songs in February and Spirit of Spring in May.

Looking further ahead, Sampad's Asian Spring event will return in 2027, bringing community dance groups from Birmingham and beyond together for a celebration of South Asian dance, from Kathak to Bhangra, with dancers of all ages and levels of experience.

Piali Ray, Sampad's artistic director, said the programme aimed to reflect the people and the times we live in while celebrating the diversity of South Asian arts. She said the events would give people the chance to come together, discover something new and connect with one another.

Tickets and booking details for each event are published on Sampad's website, and several of the events, including the walking tour and the lunchtime concerts, are designed as an easy first step for people who have never been to a South Asian arts event before.