CHAI Stories

A lively, family-friendly performance bringing together theatre, live music, puppetry and bilingual storytelling as part of Khushi Festival.

Created by the Women's CHAI Project’s West Oldham group alongside artist Kauser Mukhtar (Khooghi, Bradford City of Culture 2025), this special new piece explores themes of joy, identity, heritage and community through performance, movement and shared stories. Developed across six creative workshops, the production champions the voices, experiences and cultures that shape Oldham today.

Expect an engaging mix of music, storytelling and performance for audiences of all ages, with moments that are playful, uplifting and rooted in life experience.

The West Oldham CHAI Project is part of the Women’s CHAI Project, a community-led organisation dedicated to empowering women, families, and young people through wellbeing activities, cultural celebration, education, and social support. Through inclusive programmes, creative workshops, and community events, the project brings people together to build confidence, reduce isolation, and celebrate the rich diversity of the local community. 

Kauser Mukhtar is an artist, singer, songwriter and storyteller whose work explores contemporary ways of sharing and preserving Sufi culture and heritage in the UK. Her recent family show ‘Khooghi’ combined theatre, puppetry and live music in English, Pahari and Punjabi to explore culture, family and intergenerational connection.

Part celebration, part community collaboration, this is a chance to experience a new performance created in and for Oldham as part of this year’s Khushi Festival.