- Saaniya Abbas brings her acclaimed 2025 Fringe show HELLARIOUS to Soho Theatre
- Running Monday 9 – Saturday 14 February 2026 at Soho Theatre Downstairs
Soho Theatre is thrilled to welcome, for the first time, New Delhi–born, internationally touring comedian Saaniya Abbas with her critically-acclaimed Fringe hit, HELLARIOUS. As the driving force behind the ‘unstoppable rise of Indian comedy in the UK’ (The Guardian, May 2024), Soho Theatre continues its commitment to showcasing groundbreaking South Asian talent on the global stage.
HELLARIOUS dives headfirst into the fiery concept of Islamic hell as Saaniya proudly embraces the label of a ‘haram Muslim’. With razor-sharp wit, she unpacks a lifetime of cultural contradictions and sinful taboos, from growing up in a Muslim household in New Delhi, to studying at an all-girls Roman Catholic school in the Himalayas, moving to Dubai, marrying (and divorcing) a British man, and navigating the identity crisis that followed. Along the way, she questions whether her mother’s vivid warnings about the underworld might just hold some truth.
Tracing her journey from a sheltered upbringing to forging her own unapologetic path, HELLARIOUS is a bold, warm, and wickedly funny celebration of resilience and self-discovery.
Saaniya Abbas is an internationally touring stand-up comedian and a rising star in the Dubai comedy scene who made history at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe as the first UAE-based comic to perform a full solo hour. She has built an audience of over half a million through her sharp, globally resonant stand-up clips and storytelling, and now performs across the UK, US, India, Singapore, and the Middle East. Recent highlights include two sold-out shows at the New York Comedy Festival, a UK tour, an India tour, and her Edinburgh Fringe debut in August 2025 with her critically acclaimed, award-winning show.
‘An incredibly talented comedian, and one can only hope to see more of her in the future.’
★★★★ Fest Mag
‘Brilliantly sharp and punchy’
★★★★ The Skinny
WINNER: New One To Watch
The Skinny Bestie Awards 2025