Insane Asylum Seekers

Insane Asylum Seekers is a new play by Laith Elzubaidi, presented in its world premiere at the Bush Theatre in London. It follows a British-Iraqi family across a century of history.

Insane Asylum Seekers is a theatre production that traces three generations of a British-Iraqi family, moving between the past and the present to cover around a hundred years of their story. The play is described as both moving and comic, and it asks whether the past ever really comes to an end.

The central figure is Laith, aged 27, who has kept a secret for years and now finds it catching up with him. His mother's habit of throwing things at seagulls and his father's tendency to wander off during dangerous situations add to the strain on him. The play is written by Laith Elzubaidi, a British-Iraqi writer of comedy and drama, and the cast is led by Tommy Sim'aan as Laith.

The production is directed by Emily Ling Williams, who has been nominated for an Olivier Award for A Playlist for the Revolution. It is staged at the Bush Theatre, a London venue that hosts concerts and shows, and the material suggests it will appeal to audiences interested in new writing about migration and family life.