In our ongoing Edinburgh Fringe interview series, we are speaking to artists and creatives who are bringing their shows to the Scottish capital this summer.
In this interview, Edu Díaz discusses their show A Drag Is Born.
What can you tell me in your words about your show?
It´s a wordless, interactive, and quite surreal show, in which a man becomes a Queen onstage and finds out who he is—a ride on a magical, ridiculous and multicolor rollercoaster.
It was triggered by a homophobic attack I suffered in New York from someone I deeply respected. Then, I explored my queerness in the context of these weird times of regression.
How have you approached developing the show?
After the attack, I just wanted to have fun onstage, so I created a 5-minute stage in which a random man would become a diva onstage. I felt good and kept performing the sketch in the most iconic venues in New York, such as The Slipper Room or The Stonewall Inn.
How would you describe the style of the show?
It is a clown show with elements of drag, and silliness, rebellion, and plenty, plenty of heart.
Can you describe the show in 3 words?
Experiential! Whimsical! Drag-orxism
How do you mentally and physically prepare for a run like the Fringe?
Like many performers, I´ve been working on it for months. Now that we are weeks away from it, I'm telling myself: let´s have fun, you are enough, rest, drink water.
Away from your show, what are you most looking forward to about being in Edinburgh?
The main takeaway from all the festivals I've been in is the community, so I´m looking forward to meeting other artists from all over the world.
Are there any other shows at the Fringe you’d like to recommend?
I'm sharing the stage with James Clements in NYC with AT THE BARRICADES, so I can´t wait to discover his show, The Burns Project.
What was the first piece of theatre you saw which had a big impact on you?
I don´t even remember the name. I was a kid seeing a weird piece with sophisticated lighting, haze, and sweaty bodies moving around. That's when I decided I wanted to be part of this world.
What do you hope an audience member takes away from seeing the show?
I dream of far-right people coming to see my show and getting a new perspective of what Queer means. But I don´t think they will buy a ticket for a show called A DRAG IS BORN. So ultimately, I want to convey hope.
Where and when can people see your show?
Where and when can people see your show?
See you at ZOO Playground 2 from August 1-24 (not the 12). I'm excited to share this story with you all!
Tickets for A Drag Is Born are available here https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-drag-is-born
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