Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#34): Samia Rida, KIDNAP

29 Jun

Conducted by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic

As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect.

Today, we’re joined by Samia Rida to chat about Kidnap.

1. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

My show is based on the true story of my kidnap to Saudi when I was 8 years old. I was kidnapped by my father - don’t worry and he’s from there, he didn’t just throw a dart at a globe. The idea for it started when I found a newspaper cutting about my kidnap in my dad’s safe, and my kids were with me so they saw it too, and they were seriously shocked and I kind of thought, Oh yeah, I guess it is kind of shocking!

2. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

I’ve always wanted to come to the Fringe. I’d already performed my show in a few London venues and then on a group chat called Gobby Girls I posted that I was looking into going and someone from Gilded Balloon got in touch and we went from there. On the same day I found out I’d received funding from Keep it Fringe which was amazing. I have to say also a friend of mine and my daughter encouraged me to see if I could come which helped me a lot.

3. How would you describe your show in three words?

Kidnap - sometimes fun.

4. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?

I’d really like to entertain the audience and make them laugh, to surprise them with unexpected perspectives whilst also reassuring them that we can survive chaos, abuse, a total lack of safety, and trauma, and that they are not alone in how they feel.

5. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

I’ve never been before - can you tell me?! Or I can tell you after I go…

6. Where and when can people see your show?

House Party It is at the Gilded Balloon, Patter Hoose venue, running 30 July - 10 August at 19:15. Can’t wait to see audiences there!

Book tickets at:
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/samia-rida-kidnap