Shappi Khorsandi established herself as one of the country’s finest comedians in 2006 with her sell-out Edinburgh show, Asylum Speaker.
This show lead to the publication of her childhood memoirs, A Beginner’s Guide To Acting English, her best selling literary debut.
In typical Shappi style, this show told the story of how her family were forced to flee Iran and gain asylum in the UK. Her father’s popularity as a satirist attacking the regime has ensured they cannot return to Iran.
As Shappi says, “obviously there’s free speech in Iran, but little freedom after you’ve spoken.”
