Insane Asylum Seekers

Insane Asylum Seekers description

Love autobiographical comedy? Insane Asylum Seekers is on stage at the Bush Theatre. 

Insane Asylum Seekers is staged at the venue's Holloway space. Presented by Samia Djilli and Sarah Allen in association with Bush Theatre, the play is written by Laith Elzubaidi and directed by Emily Ling Williams. 

The fastest-selling Studio show in the theatre's history, it sold out the entire original run within two weeks. 

We have Tommy Sim'aan in the starring role of 27 year old Laith, whose parents fled from Iraq three decades ago to escape Saddam Hussein's dictatorship to build a new life in the UK. Laith isn't made the same way. He reckons he'd have a panic attack watching the final episode of Succession. But his deeply personal secret is about to catch up with him. His mum throws things at seagulls. His dad wanders off if there's an emergency. It's funny. But as the comedy unfolds we realise there are different stories underneath the fun: tales of family, migration, and suffering. 

With important themes including inherited trauma, mental health, masculinity, shame and family expectations at its heart, the play explores refugee identity and what it's like to grow up as a British-Iraqi, asking what happens when one generation's trauma subtly shapes the emotions of their children. Using humour to challenge the audience's assumptions before pivoting to much more personal territory, the show mixes stand-up comedy with autobiographical storytelling, direct audience engagement, emotional confession and brilliant observational humour to laugh its way into difficult subjects.

Laith Elzubaidi is a British-Iraqi playwright, screenwriter and community organiser. He's the founder of the British-Arab Writers Group, has won the Tony Craze Award, and writes for film and theatre. This transfer follows the acclaimed 2025 Studio production. 

Buy Insane Asylum Seekers tickets to see an emotional roller-coaster of a drama that's very funny, deeply personal, emotionally generous, and politically aware without being preachy. 

Playing at Bush Theatre

7 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 8LJ GB (venue info)

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