A bold, joyful punk-musical one-person show about making a queer family on your own terms, written and performed by award-nominated comedian, writer and composer Leila Navabi.
The critically acclaimed show was included in The Guardian’s “10 Best Shows to Catch” at Edinburgh Fringe this summer, and was nominated for the Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence.
Relay blends stand-up, electro-pop musical numbers and hand-drawn animation into a heartfelt, hilarious hour about what it takes to start a family when the odds (and the system) are stacked against you. Leila dives into the wild ride of making a baby at home with her partner, a best mate as the sperm donor, and, naturally, his boyfriend cheering from the sidelines. Navabi unpacks love, ambition, and the chaos of building a family on her own terms. Equal parts absurd and profound, Relay is proof that family is not just what you make it, but how.
Leila’s debut show Composition sold out its run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 and transferred to London’s Soho Theatre.
Further praise for Relay:
★★★★ — Fest Magazine
“Smart and sharp punk musical comedy … Navabi handles the warmth with care … Relay leaves us with hope in the enduring generosity and support of our loved ones.”
★★★★ — The Skinny
“What is perhaps Navabi’s greatest talent, aside from her clean, high vocals and her whip-like wit, is her ability to put an audience at ease”
★★★★★ — The Student Newspaper
“The audience was lit up with smiling, teary faces.”
“A delightful and comic meditation on what it means to be a family… It’s impossible not to fall for Leila Navabi’s story” – The Stage
“A heartfelt story about dreams, hope and the importance of chosen family… Navabi’s performance is deeply honest and personal.” – Nation Cymru