About the Show

A hilarious yet poignant tale of family, identity, and the chaos of the British-Iraqi experience.

At 27, Laith's father had survived and escaped multiple brutal dictatorships. At the same age, Laith finds himself overwhelmed by a panic attack over the finale of Succession. But his struggles run far deeper—he’s been hiding a secret for years, one that’s finally catching up with him. As he navigates his own turmoil, he’s also dealing with his eccentric family: a mother who hurls objects at seagulls and a father who has a habit of disappearing during life-threatening moments.

Thirty years after his parents fled Iraq, Laith begins to question how their past has shaped his present. Both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving, Insane Asylum Seekers is a sharp, heartfelt exploration of identity, survival, and the complexities of the British-Iraqi refugee experience.

Critic Reviews (6)

“The show isn’t afraid to generate a raised eyebrow...But name-calling isn’t the point of a capaciously hearted show which dares to consider the way in which horror can, with luck, be transmuted into hope.”
Read more

"The play marries black comedy with invigorating anti-colonialism to explore the tragic personal consequences of the Arab diaspora."
Read more

"A warm show with an irrepressibly big heart, albeit one that never quite stops feeling like standup.
Read more

“A warm show with an irrepressibly big heart, albeit one that never quite stops feeling like standup...Perhaps Starmer should watch it. Maybe it will remind him that immigrants...are often vulnerable and broken human beings.”
Read more

"Tommy Sim’aan’s charismatic performance breathes life and joy into this dark comedy about generational trauma"
Read more

“Insane Asylum Seekers isn’t just a play. It’s a statement. Bold, blistering, and deeply human, it challenges you to laugh at things you’re not sure are funny, then interrogates you as to why you laughed in the first place.”
Read more

Cast and creative team