In partnership with Pleasance Theatre, Sherman Theatre is supporting a brand new punk musical comedy, made in Wales, to be performed at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Written and performed by multi-disciplinary artist Leila Navabi, Relay tells the true story of how Leila made a baby at home with her partner, a best mate as the sperm donor and, naturally, his boyfriend cheering from the sidelines. Featuring six brand new original songs, Relay unpacks love, ambition and the chaos of building a family on your own terms.
This new show follows Leila’s sell-out 2024 debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Composition (“an eye-catching introduction to a comic of promise”, The Guardian). Relay is part of The Pleasance Theatre Trust’s Edinburgh National Partnerships 2025 programme, supported by Sherman Theatre.
Announcing the show, Leila says, “I’m so proud to be sharing Relay - it’s the most personal thing I’ve ever made, and also the most fun. It’s got six original songs, a keytar, and basically my whole heart on a plate in it. This show is about building a family in a way that feels right for you, and I can’t wait for people to see it.”
Sherman Theatre’s Chief Executive Julia Barry said: “Giving artists in Wales a platform for taking their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is integral to our work creating pathways for creatives at all stages of their careers. We have built a strong track record of helping innovative and daring new shows make this important step, and the show we’ve chosen to support this year is no exception. Fringe audiences are in for a treat.”
Justin Teddy Cliffe, Creative Producer at TEAM Collective Cymru, said: "We're so pleased to be supporting Leila Navabi to produce Relay. Our first show commissioned from our City Socials project development opportunity, it's a bit of a beacon for what's possible when artists and companies work together with a shared vision. Figuring out how we continue to support artists to create incredible work is part of our overall mission, and Relay is an important stepping stone. It's an incredible piece of work, made with authenticity, grit, heart and a pure punk ethos, and we think audiences are gunna love it."
This is the fourth consecutive year in which Sherman Theatre has taken part in the Edinburgh National Partnerships programme. The winning bid’s support package includes finance towards the costs of presenting a show at the Fringe; comprehensive PR, marketing and advertising support; rehearsal and development space and a run of preview performances at Sherman Theatre; plus mentorship and advice from both Sherman and Pleasance Theatres and support to build new touring relationships.
Last year, Sherman supported Polly & Esther, a high-camp, chaotic drag cabaret, written and performed by iconic Welsh mother and daughter drag-duo Polly Amorous and Esther Parade. Following its hugely successful Edinburgh run, the show was performed at Adelaide Fringe February-March 2025.
In 2023, Sherman supported StammerMouth’s CHOO CHOO! (Or… Have You Ever Thought About ****** **** *****? (Cos I Have)). The show, a silly and surreal insight into obsessive compulsive disorder, went on to win a Fringe First Award and the 2023 Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award. It was then performed at the Southbank Centre, as part of the Centre’s Unlimited 2024 festival.
In 2022, with support from The Other Room, Sherman supported difficult|stage’s An Audience With Milly-Liu. François Pandolfo’s one-man cat drag show was a hit with audiences and critics alike, winning the inaugural David Johnson Emerging Talent Award.
As before, Sherman Theatre joins an illustrious list of theatres including Leicester Curve, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and The Lyric Belfast, all of whom are taking part in the Pleasance’s Edinburgh National Partnership. The initiative sees the Pleasance working with partner theatres across the UK to identify and support exceptional artists and companies local to them who want to take work to the Fringe. Each partner is a leading national producing house, with a commitment to supporting and developing new artists.