CARDIFF’S first ever ‘curry musical’, Half ‘n’ Half, premieres at Wales Millennium Centre from October 12-18, celebrating the Great British Curry and the people who make it.

Written by Cardiff-based writer and composer Tim Riley, Half ‘n’ Half is set in the Taj Mahal, a fictional restaurant on Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, in 1987.

Ali, the boss, is ready to retire to his native Bangladesh, but he faces a dilemma – who should take over the business? His nephew Khan, from Sylhet, or Rafiq, the streetwise head waiter?

But trouble appears with the arrival of Mr Bajar, the self-proclaimed Balti King from Birmingham, with a taste for a takeover.

Hotter than a Vindaloo and cooler than a Korma, this funny, fast-paced and colourful show explores the layers of cultural identity - Asian, Bangladeshi, British, Welsh - which are specific to Cardiff but resonate with communities across the UK. The title of the play too, reflects this fusion of Welsh and Asian cultures.

Half ‘n’ Half is full of original songs that draw on Western, Bollywood, and South Asian folk music influences and boasts a fantastic cast of actors including Cardiff’s very own Boyd Clack.

To research the show, Tim helped out in the kitchens of The Cinnamon Tree, where he got to know the staff and their stories (and ate a lot of curry). A research and development phase followed, at the end of which a rough version of the show was performed upstairs at The Cinnamon Tree – the first time a musical has been staged in a curry house.

Half ‘n’ Half is produced by Tinderbox Alley in association with Wales Millennium Centre and is supported by the Arts Council of Wales.

Tickets range from £10 to £14.

Ffres Bar and Restaurant is also offering a pre-show curry with half 'n' half (chips and rice) and naan bread for £4.

For more information and to book tickets visit wmc.org.uk or call 02920 636464.