Reviews
“Mimi’s Suitcase was a hidden gem of the fringe. Ana Bayat’s story is fascinating. A story of growing up in Iran in the early days of the Revolution, it puts a human face to a story in a way no stony-faced documentary can. It deserves a bigger audience.” Chris Neville-Smith, Edinburgh Festival Fringe
“Mimi’s Suitcase packs an incredible amount of moods and experiences into one hour as it describes how a party-loving young girl confronts the realities of religious fundamentalism in Iran during the 1980s.
Mimi’s Suitcase blends the light and dark elements of its tale with force and humour. Ana Bayat is an exuberant performer in constant motion. She switches languages from English to Spanish to Farsi and characters from easy-going Spanish neighbours to sinister religious policemen. She revels in the pop culture of the 1980s from Duran Duran to Flashdance and her account of how the Ayatollahs stopped the party is funny and disturbing.” Peter Donachie, Edinburgh Reporter
“I would recommend this show to anyone interested in learning more about the importance of freedom of expression and how it can be taken away”. Amnesty International, UK
“Bayat is at her strongest as a storyteller. She skillfully evokes time and place, performing multiple characters, flicking between accents and languages with ease.” Laura Kate Jones, Lady Parts