Lyric Theatre | Kidnap | Friday 05 March 2027

Description

Based on the true story of Samia’s own kidnap to Saudi Arabia as a child, the show is a dark, challenging, and defiantly funny exploration of multiculturalism, domestic abuse, having a disabled sibling, and how kidnap can involve a swimming pool.

Kidnap previously performed at Riverside Studios as part of their Bitesize Festival, and the script has been optioned for a television adaptation by Fulwell 73. Samia’s previous acting credits include Breeders; Rebel Cheer Squad and Tell Me About Yourself, for which she received a Best International Actor award. As a writer, Samia has been part of the BBC Writersroom and selected for the WFTV Mentoring Scheme. The show is supported by the charity Sibs, BBC Comedy Collective and Funny Women, and has been developed with directorial support from Gareth Edwards (Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping, Spaced, Upstart Crow).

The show explores growing up half-Saudi and half-Welsh, domestic violence, family, trauma and becoming a young carer to my disabled brother. I was determined not to trauma-dump, but to take risks in how I explored the less spoken-about parts of these experiences: the feelings we don’t always think we’re allowed to have, the contradictions within families and the dark humour that can exist in some fairly unlikely places.

Kidnap received a five-star review at Edinburgh’s Gilded Balloon and a four-star review at the Drayton Arms Theatre. I’ve also just taken the show to Park Theatre and Pitlochry Theatre, continuing to rewrite and develop it through each performance.

It’s directed by Gareth Edwards, whose credits include Spaced, That Mitchell & Webb Look and Upstart Crow, and was previously optioned by Fulwell73