Sonia Sabri Company’s Roshni At Derby Theatre – Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Sheridan Brown
What a wonderful evening we’ve just had! My companion and I were invited to be part of the audience at Derby Theatre, for a one-night-only performance of Roshni – an amazing dance experience, brought to us by the internationally renowned Sonia Sabri Company. We both love dance – but admitted to each other that we knew little to nothing about Kathak – the north Indian classical dance on which Sonia Sabri’s choreography is based. In spite of our lack of knowledge – and not knowing what to expect – we found we were drawn in by Sonia’s gentle and generous personality. The word ‘Roshni’ comes from the Persian word meaning light or brilliance – and the performance was indeed full of light and joy. We left the show feeling uplifted and enlightened – and felt that we’d been part of something culturally significant.
During the 80-minute performance, we were swept into a world of beautiful story-telling, visually arresting choreography and brilliant musicianship. Award-winning Sonia Sabri’s contemporary reimagining of classic Kathak dance was shot through with glimpses of other dance genres from South Asia, Middle East and Europe. The movement of her body was set against a completely plain backdrop – with only subtle lighting changes to augment the performance. The show was divided into three distinct and evocative pieces: The Call, The Light and The Wave.
Integral to Sonia’s dance performance was the contribution of three phenomenal multi-instrumentalist musicians. The ensemble included award-winning Sarvar Sabri on tabla, Sam Slater on guitar and Arabic Oud and Dominic O’Sullivan on clarinet and a variety of other woodwind instruments. The rhythms and motifs in their performance rose and fell in hypnotic waves of melody – perfectly responding to Sonia’s choreography. At the heart of ‘Roshni’ is improvisation, and it felt like dancer and musicians came together in a beautiful dialogue of sound and movement.
The opening dance – ‘The Call’ – was a vibrant and joyful introduction to Kathak. Sonia owned the stage and stunned the audience with her fluid, yet precise choreography. In ‘The Light’ Sonia used her powers of mime and gesture to tell the story of a forest guardian. We were completely swept away by the emotional depths of the story – and reminded that the earth’s bounty is not limitless. The finale of the show ‘The Wave’ drew upon the audience to explore the beats and timings of the Kathak genre – finding resonance with the beats and waves in our own lives. Sonia’s generous, encouraging presence coaxed the (initially reluctant) audience in a call and response of musical beats. As our confidence grew, we threw ourselves into the dance’s beats and waves. As the performance came to a close, I felt like I’d shared something special – and a little bit mysterious.
I’m so pleased that Derby Theatre played host to the Sonia Sabri Company. In a vibrant and multi-cultural city, it’s important to continue to invest in culturally-diverse productions. And we feel that Derby Theatre is a great venue for such an enterprise. The theatre was perfect for this intimate, inclusive and joyful show. The main auditorium has just over 500 seats – enough of a crowd to create a great atmosphere – but not so large a venue as to feel disconnected from the performers on stage.
As always, Derby Theatre was very welcoming. The staff at the box office were very friendly and couldn’t do enough to help us get the most out of our visit. The foyer, box office and café on the ground floor had a lovely contemporary feel, with plenty of seating for patrons. The bright and airy feel of the venue was continued up the well-lit, sweeping staircase to the first-floor bar – with plenty more seating available. Finding our seats in the auditorium, I was struck how comfortable they were, with plenty of legroom. There was also a good amount of space available for guests who are wheelchair-users. Parking is easy and inexpensive in the evening – in the large basement carpark that serves Derbion. Best access is from Traffic Street. If you prefer to use public transport, the bus-station is just across the road, and the railway station is just a 12-minute walk away. What’s not to like!
All in all, we both had a truly uplifting and joyful evening. Roshni was a show that filled the senses and transported us to another place. We both felt we had learned something new. If you get the chance to see Roshni – we’d thoroughly recommend it!
Rating: 5/5
Date: 5th February, 2026
Derby Theatre: www.derbytheatre.co.uk
Sonia Sabri Company: www.ssco.org.uk