When your mother throws crisps at seagulls and your father changes into his best suit during a heart attack, are they quirky or scarred?
Insane Asylum Seekers at Bush Theatre brilliantly blurs this line through this laugh-out-loud yet touching exploration of heritage.
Tommy Sim'aan expertly portrays multiple characters in this autobiographical story of Laith Elzubaidi, growing up with Iraqi refugee parents while developing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Behind the eccentric behaviours are the lingering effects of war, displacement, and starting life over in a new country – experiences that echo through generations.
This rich family portrait is deeply personal and widely relatable, regardless of your background.
Bush Theatre continues to cement H&F's reputation as London's new theatre hotspot with this standout production. It runs until 7 June, tickets from £15.
Baghdad, the Bush and back
Sim'aan switches between Laith's father, who seems to attract political disaster wherever he goes, and his mother, whose seemingly odd habits make perfect sense once you understand her history.
Her warning, "You are dead without your passport!", is one of many memorable lines that reveal the generational impact of violence and trauma inflicted on refugees and asylum seekers.
What starts as one family's journey to England gradually evolves to show how we inherit more than just genetics from our parents.
His childhood struggles with intrusive thoughts and obsessive compulsions – a condition that affects round 750,000 people living in the UK – are portrayed with sensitivity and humour rather than stigma.
The most powerful moments come when Laith accompanies his mother back to Baghdad after 30 years away.
The story moves between British and Iraqi cultural contexts without judgment and finds unexpected connections in both worlds.
Supporting refugees in H&F
Hammersmith & Fulham is a borough for all, and we welcome all refugees and asylum seekers seeking safety.
Subscribe to our What's On newsletter to be the first to hear about our upcoming Refugee Week, starting with a funday on Saturday 14 June in Brook Green, along with exclusive discounts for H&F residents to local productions like this one.
Insane Asylum Seekers runs until 7 June at Bush Theatre, with tickets from £15. Book via the Bush Theatre website.
