Shazia Mirza and Satnam Galsian to headline Oldham’s Khushi Festival this summer

Waterfall of Kites

Khushi Festival will return to Oldham on Saturday 1 August with comedy, music, theatre, art and free family activities celebrating South Asian culture across venues in the town.

Award winning comedian Shazia Mirza and British Asian singer songwriter Satnam Galsian are among the headline acts for the one day event.

The annual festival of happiness will bring together artists, performers and community groups with a programme designed for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Comedian and broadcaster Shazia Mirza will perform a show featuring observations on family life, relationships and modern culture. Organisers say her appearance forms one of the centrepieces of this year’s programme.

New music from Satnam Galsian will also feature through Love or Sacrifice, a performance blending Punjabi folk traditions with themes exploring gender expectations and the experiences of women in South Asian culture.

The programme also includes CHAI Stories, a family theatre production from Kauser Muhktar and West Oldham CHAI Project, alongside a one woman comedy drama from Amina Aaliya Beg called My Mum Told Me Not To Marry A xxxx.

Families and younger audiences will also be able to take part in interactive experiences including Lilo Lost It! and the life sized Actual Reality Arcade game zone.

Gallery Oldham and Oldham Library will host Waterfall of Kites, featuring a large installation alongside newly commissioned works from local artists Samaya Javed, Iqra Khadiza and Dada Zubeda.

Festival visitors can also take part in a Whirling Dervish experience, spoken word sessions, communal dining, street food and activities including kite making, henna, dressing up and family entertainment.

Martina Murphy, chief executive of Oldham Coliseum Theatre, said, “We’re incredibly proud to be part of bringing Khushi to Oldham once again. It captures the kind of cultural experience we want Oldham Coliseum Theatre to champion, joyful, welcoming, multigenerational and deeply connected to community.”

Najma Khalid MBE DL, founder and artistic engagement director of Khushi Festival, said, “Khushi is a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity, joy and togetherness, bringing people from across Oldham and beyond together through music, performance, storytelling, food, art and shared cultural experiences.”

Further information, including venues and timings, is available through the Oldham Coliseum Theatre programme.