Sepideh Kaav, in her debut solo Fringe show, has a laid-back delivery that makes her, at times, incredibly dark material seem as light as a feather. Not just content with the easy route of playing up Western stereotypes of Iran, such as childhood reminisces about chanting that age-old phrase ‘Death to America!’ she also ventures into potentially rockier territory with later jokes.

Jokes about quasi-incestuous relationships and God’s questionable ideas of consent are risky comedic subjects at the best of times, and as Kaav is telling them, it feels as if she is walking a tightrope in terms of going too far. However, her light, breezy manner makes the punchlines land and never has them fall over into cheap attempts at shocking the audience.

Even potentially more cliched material, such as routines about visiting the British Museum, and her German ex’s more stereotypical tendencies never feel stale in her hands, instead coming across as inspired and fresh. An unexpected musical variation, in the form of Kaav’s guitar ‘skills’, also helps to mix things up stylistically, blending witty lyrics about immigration and boyfriend problems with intentionally funny off-key strumming, that branch the hour out beyond just being straight stand-up.

There are serious points made in between Kaav’s array of straightforward set-up/punchline material, with Iranian attitudes to women, Islamophobia, trans/non-binary rights and Kaav’s own vulnerable status as an Iranian female immigrant in Europe being highlighted amidst the broadly comic tone. However, Kaav doesn’t let these aspects shift the tone of her hour in a jarring way, instead using her dark humour to couch them in a way that keeps the laughs coming.

1979: Persianality Disorder is a pitch-blackly funny debut show that leaves no sacred cow untouched. Kaav opens by apologising for her English, but her deceptively gentle energy allows her to get away with a lot in terms of humour whilst still keeping the audience on her side throughout.

1979: Persianality Disorder is at Main Room at Laughing Horse @ Coco Boho until Sun 30 Aug 2026