“Every year I’d look through the programme to see who was performing and imagine what it would be like to be there as an audience member. So to now be bringing my own show to Edinburgh is a bit of a pinch-me moment.”
WHO: Layla Warren
WHAT: “Layla, an Iranian refugee, escapes war and rebuilds herself in American television. But when her dream begins to fracture, the past she once fled quietly returns. Long Way Home is a solo performance blending humour, storytelling and cultural insight. Tracing the distance between survival and identity. From Tehran to broadcast studios, it asks what must be sacrificed, reshaped or concealed in order to be seen. And how do you find home when it feels like you’ve left it behind? Directed by Sepy Baghaei. Dramaturg – Pilar Alessandra. Sound designer – Pouya Ehsaei.”
WHERE: Snug at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24)
WHEN: 11:40 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is my first time at the Edinburgh Fringe, and for a long time it felt more like a distant dream than something that would actually happen. Every year I’d look through the programme to see who was performing and imagine what it would be like to be there as an audience member. So to now be bringing my own show to Edinburgh is a bit of a pinch-me moment.
As it’s my first Fringe, I feel like it’s going to be filled with so many firsts. It’ll be my first time in Edinburgh, my first time performing there, and my first time experiencing the Fringe as an audience member.
That’s exciting because I get to see the festival from both sides, as a performer and as someone who loves discovering new storytelling.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the past 12 months has been to just go for it.
It’s easy to wait until you feel completely ready or convince yourself that the timing isn’t right, but if you keep waiting until you’re 100% ready, life will pass you by.
The Edinburgh Fringe started as a passing thought “Wouldn’t that be cool?” and now I’m actually taking a show there. For me, this past year has been about listening to that inner voice and acting on it. Taking an idea, turning it into a script, and now being in rehearsals and preparing for the show.
Confidence doesn’t come before you start, it comes because you start. Sometimes you just have to trust yourself enough to take the first step.
Tell us about your show.
On the surface, the show tells the story of my journey from Tehran to England, and then all the way to Los Angeles in pursuit of my dream of becoming a TV presenter. But at its heart, it’s about more than that. It’s a story about identity, resilience, belonging, and what it really means to find home.
It’s about navigating different cultures, chasing seemingly impossible dreams, and discovering that home isn’t always a place…sometimes it’s the person you become along the way.
Right now, my focus is on giving everything I have to Edinburgh. I’ve learned that if you’re always thinking about your next move, you can’t give your full attention to the moment you’re in.
I want to embrace that: to be present, enjoy the experience, and give this show everything I’ve got.
I’m also incredibly fortunate to have my director, Sepy Baghaei, who has honestly been heaven-sent.
She’s incredibly thoughtful and intentional. She never speaks without carefully considering what she wants to say, and every note she gives is in service of making the show stronger.
She has no ego, and she’s someone you immediately trust. It’s been a gift to collaborate with her.
Because of that, I feel like I owe it to her, to the audience, and to the show itself to be fully present and focused on Edinburgh. I want to give this experience everything I have.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I have to admit, I don’t know many people at the Fringe yet…I’m not on social media, I only have an instagram account, and I haven’t posted in years! So as for as modern day society is concerned, I’m a recluse!
But I’m really looking forward to discovering new shows and supporting the talented artists bringing their work to Edinburgh this year.
I’m especially excited to support the other Iranian women at the festival, including Hajar Woodland’s, Hajar, Like Badger, and Sepideh Kaav’s, 1979: Persianility Disorder. At a time when there’s so much attention on Iran, seeing Iranian voices and stories represented at the Fringe feels meaningful, and I’m proud to be a part of that.
I also have to give a huge shout-out to the team at Gilded Balloon. They’ve been extraordinary!
I’ve never worked with a company like this before, and it’s been such a treat. Everything is run efficiently, everyone is responsive, the professionalism is exceptional, but it’s the warmth of the team that has left the biggest impression on me,
I imagine that’s a reflection of Karen and Katy Koren’s leadership. As a female-led company, they’ve clearly created a culture where people genuinely care, and you can feel that in every interaction with the Gilded team.
It goes to show, not only do women get the job done, they do it exceptionally well. I can’t wait to meet everyone from Gilded in Edinburgh and thank them in person.
And as for what I’m hoping to see, a few shows that have caught my eye are Church by Brit Barron, Olivia Xing: Baby of Colour, and The End of the World by Destiny Faith Nelson/ Rhymes with Purple.
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