Layla Warren’s autobiography is undeniably packed with incident: a childhood in Tehran where she heard bombs dropping during the Iran-Iraq war; moves to London and the US (and back again); a performance CV that includes hosting for MTV alongside her childhood crush and, eventually, a happy marriage. With difficult family relationships and the pressures of Islamic values taking a dim view on her wandering and career, Warren has struggled to find her confidence. She tells her story with aplomb, commenting on the ironies of never quite finding her home and how she is perceived as ‘other’ across different cultures. From an uncomfortable photoshoot with Maxim magazine causing both her mother and Al Gore to question her values, to an industry that dismissed her once she failed to conform to beauty standards, Warren’s life, despite her successes, hints at the systemic oppressions faced by a woman from the global majority.

Although her lack of self-pity is admirable (she depicts herself as resilient and self-motivated), the narrative sometimes lacks dramatic tension and the episodes quickly rush over the obstacles, leaving the impression of a monologue that wants to celebrate a life well-lived rather than consider the deeper implications. A final note of compassion lends the show a warmth that Warren doesn’t always show to herself. While it is problematic to demand that an artist turns their biography into a study of anguish, the script renders the performance too smooth and casual. 

Long Way Home, Gilded Balloon Patter House, until 31 August, 11.40am; picture: Charles Flint.