They say it takes a village to raise a child, but for Welsh-Iranian comedian Leila Navabi, it takes a partner, a best friend with a donor cup, a red keytar, and a healthy dose of punk-rock defiance.
After a critically acclaimed, 'must-see' run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Leila is taking their riotous one-woman musical Relay on a UK tour.
Relay tackles the clinical coldness of the fertility industry with high-octane songs and life-sized cardboard cutouts.
We sat down with Leila to discuss the show further.
The show is titled Relay. In the context of parenting, who is holding the baton at different stages, and how does the "hand-off" work between a partner, a donor-best-friend, and his boyfriend?
Firstly, “hand-off” feels excruciatingly close to some sort of euphemism, so I just wanted to get that elephant in the room addressed. That's an interesting question because Relay isn't so much about parenting but rather the ~journey~ to becoming a parent. It's called Relay for a very specific reason which will all become apparent on seeing the show (plug plug plug!) but there is certainly an overarching allegory within the show which touches on the teamwork any human life takes to sustain - baby or otherwise!
You were told at 24 that you were infertile, only to find out later that wasn't the case. How did that initial "medical trauma" shape the urgency and the punk-rock defiance that fuels the show?
Everything about how we ended up having to navigate the process sort of felt quite punk rock, really. I think that's the case for anyone who identifies within any social/cultural minority to be honest, so it wasn't something I was unfamiliar with. That probably helped. I guess I was anticipating the medical side of things to be more straightforward but actually more fool me - because when are they ever! I would call the story itself intrinsically punk, and the rest followed.
Everything about how we ended up having to navigate the process sort of felt quite punk rock, really. I think that's the case for anyone who identifies within any social/cultural minority to be honest, so it wasn't something I was unfamiliar with. That probably helped. I guess I was anticipating the medical side of things to be more straightforward but actually more fool me - because when are they ever! I would call the story itself intrinsically punk, and the rest followed.
You’ve spoken about the system being "stacked against" queer parents. Do you see Relay as a piece of activism disguised as a musical, or is the "protest" simply in the act of being happy?
Haha - I think for a long time I saw being happy as some sort of protest, but I reckon that's quite exhausting and it’s nice to just let yourself feel your feelings without giving thought to negative powers that be. In fact, maybe that is the real protest. If people take a sense of anarchy and fight from the show, that's totally cool with me. But it's a true story and not any sort of big conscious decision.
Haha - I think for a long time I saw being happy as some sort of protest, but I reckon that's quite exhausting and it’s nice to just let yourself feel your feelings without giving thought to negative powers that be. In fact, maybe that is the real protest. If people take a sense of anarchy and fight from the show, that's totally cool with me. But it's a true story and not any sort of big conscious decision.
How do you navigate the vocabulary of this arrangement? Are you intentionally deconstructing the traditional roles of "father" and "friend" to create something bespoke?
I was actually having this exact conversation with my partner today! Yes, it's such an interesting and gorgeous dynamic, especially in practice. It's totally bespoke but I also think that's the case in most families. For us it's less deconstructing the role of “father” and more constructing a whole new role that suits our family. Trying to adhere to some sort of cookie-cutter role system when you are a bunch of cakes (fruit cakes) rather than cookies just isn't viable, and we like it that way.
I was actually having this exact conversation with my partner today! Yes, it's such an interesting and gorgeous dynamic, especially in practice. It's totally bespoke but I also think that's the case in most families. For us it's less deconstructing the role of “father” and more constructing a whole new role that suits our family. Trying to adhere to some sort of cookie-cutter role system when you are a bunch of cakes (fruit cakes) rather than cookies just isn't viable, and we like it that way.
You mention the donor's boyfriend "cheering from the sidelines." In your experience, why is that specific, secondary layer of support so vital to the success of a chosen family structure?
I would say it isn't vital to ~a~ chosen family per se, but it definitely was and is to ~ours~. I think what's vital to a successful chosen family structure is different for everyone - but the pillars for us were/are love and patience and laughter, and we’re so lucky to have all that in abundance.
I would say it isn't vital to ~a~ chosen family per se, but it definitely was and is to ~ours~. I think what's vital to a successful chosen family structure is different for everyone - but the pillars for us were/are love and patience and laughter, and we’re so lucky to have all that in abundance.
You perform alongside life-sized illustrations of your inner circle. Why choose 2D cut-outs instead of, say, video or just describing them? Does their static presence on stage represent the "unwavering" nature of your chosen family?
The creative team and I spent ages thinking about this. It started out as a traditional stand-up show, and we worked from there. One of the things that became most obviously apparent was me standing alone on the stage felt antithetical to the story. And thus, the cutouts were born - and they certainly are an unwavering presence - on the stage and also in the corner of my living room where they currently reside between shows.
The creative team and I spent ages thinking about this. It started out as a traditional stand-up show, and we worked from there. One of the things that became most obviously apparent was me standing alone on the stage felt antithetical to the story. And thus, the cutouts were born - and they certainly are an unwavering presence - on the stage and also in the corner of my living room where they currently reside between shows.
Comedy often relies on exaggeration, but Relay is described as "profoundly human." How much of the "messiness" did you feel a responsibility to keep raw rather than polishing it for a punchline?
I think this story is so ridiculous and as such, lots of the punchlines have written themselves. I would tell people about this year and a half in our lives and they’d go ‘this has to be a show/sitcom/film’.
I think this story is so ridiculous and as such, lots of the punchlines have written themselves. I would tell people about this year and a half in our lives and they’d go ‘this has to be a show/sitcom/film’.
Parenting and family-building are often depicted as soft, pastel-coloured experiences. Why was a "riotous punk-musical" the right sonic landscape for this particular story?
For exactly that reason. Nothing about this has been giving ‘pastel’ at any moment in time. We are anarchistic little freaks so that's how the show had to be!
For exactly that reason. Nothing about this has been giving ‘pastel’ at any moment in time. We are anarchistic little freaks so that's how the show had to be!
Relay was a standout in 2025. How did the show evolve from a "stand-up set with songs" into a cohesive piece of musical theatre?
Ah that's nice. We were fortunate that the Arts Council of Wales really backed me and then later, us (the creative team) to be able to make this a proper big fat show. It's something that’s new to me. Stand-up is very meritocratic. You can go anywhere really and just do it. I just feel very #blessed to have been supported in making a little sideways move. The show still owes a lot to stand up, but yeah, it's a piece of theatre.
Ah that's nice. We were fortunate that the Arts Council of Wales really backed me and then later, us (the creative team) to be able to make this a proper big fat show. It's something that’s new to me. Stand-up is very meritocratic. You can go anywhere really and just do it. I just feel very #blessed to have been supported in making a little sideways move. The show still owes a lot to stand up, but yeah, it's a piece of theatre.
The red keytar is your weapon of choice. Is there something about the keytar—often seen as an "uncool" or "niche" instrument—that perfectly mirrors the "alternative" family structure you’re building?
How DARE you! It is so COOL! The boring answer is hiring a piano at theatres is often expensive and this was cheaper and more portable. It's a side effect that I look so fantastic strapped to it.
How DARE you! It is so COOL! The boring answer is hiring a piano at theatres is often expensive and this was cheaper and more portable. It's a side effect that I look so fantastic strapped to it.
Performing a high-octane, one-woman musical is an athletic feat. How does that physical exhaustion mirror the actual exhaustion of the family-planning process you’re describing?
It is an athletic feat. I did the Fringe 6 months after giving birth too - talk about diving in at the deep end. But yes, I think this mirror is an intentional thing, it was one thing after another. But we never gave up!
It is an athletic feat. I did the Fringe 6 months after giving birth too - talk about diving in at the deep end. But yes, I think this mirror is an intentional thing, it was one thing after another. But we never gave up!
How does your heritage influence your view of "family"? Is there a clash or a harmony between traditional cultural expectations and the "punk" reality of your life now?
I’m Welsh-Iranian and I think growing up immersed within two separate cultural experiences (simultaneously) was really good for me actually. Mixed race/religion marriage is the OG punk.
I’m Welsh-Iranian and I think growing up immersed within two separate cultural experiences (simultaneously) was really good for me actually. Mixed race/religion marriage is the OG punk.
What do you want a young queer person in the audience—someone who might not see themselves in traditional parenting narratives—to take away from the show?
Seeing this show is a good way to get your hands on lots of information that I had to spend a LOT of money to get myself. So, it's a bargain really. I hope it gives people the confidence to (sorry to sound American here) step into their power. You don't need to ask for permission! Just do it!
Seeing this show is a good way to get your hands on lots of information that I had to spend a LOT of money to get myself. So, it's a bargain really. I hope it gives people the confidence to (sorry to sound American here) step into their power. You don't need to ask for permission! Just do it!
Relay by Leila Navabi tours playing on the road until 22nd May 2026. For tour dates and venues visit https://showandtellpresents.com/events/leila-navabi-relay?fbclid=PAVERFWAOjkMJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacrYrZ3BGn9cVTm7oSbrW2bXuM_HJHrsmKpvUdEGgSvhJZKlmmvBXvhfjJRuQ_aem_AZUwgdKJAxMTJCIH3cAcOA
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