Jake Mace
Edu Díaz is the creator and performer of upcoming EdFringe non-verbal clown show A Drag Is Born, blending clowning with lip-sync, drag, and a touch of audience interaction. The story follows an ordinary man who, through a twist of fate, is magically transformed into the Queen of the Carnival.
With advanced age, abundant body hair, and limited talents, our main character is an unlikely candidate for the role, but Díaz aims to remind us that it’s never too late to embrace your true self. We caught up with Edu for a pixelated pint to find out more about the show.
You can catch A Drag is Born from August 1st to 24th (not the 12th) at Zoo Playground – Playground 2 from 18:05 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Edu! Your show follows an ordinary man who finds himself magically transformed into the Queen of the Carnival – tell us about what inspired the show and the journey you’ve been on so far.
Edu: A Drag Is Born was triggered by an attack with homophobic slurs I suffered in 2022. That event collided with a midlife crisis I’m still figuring out, with my perception as a queer person, my youthhood as a drag performer -only for friends-, and the rise of hate speech. On the other hand, I connected with the New York City clown community. I wanted to leave behind the method acting and all that psychological torture, and wanted to have fun. So I began to develop a 5-minute sketch in which a man becomes a hairy Beyoncé onstage.
That sketch was successful, and I continued performing in iconic venues around the city, such as The Stonewall Inn (where the Pride began). I gradually increased the time from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. Then, I applied for the NYC Fringe in 2024 to present an hour-long show I didn’t have. I assembled a team that trusted me from the beginning, and we collaborated on a piece that has won six Awards, received the best reviews of my career, and has taken me to eight festivals in New York, Los Angeles, and Florida. For Edinburgh, we even won the Keep It Fringe US grant. Jake, I didn’t see this coming.
Jake: Tell us about what the audience can expect coming into the show, and what they might not expect about the show.
Edu: Ha! Great question. Many people have told me in the past, ‘I didn’t expect that at all,’ which makes me happy as a creator. I’m aware that the title may take audiences to the universe of Drag Race, but my show is way more campy and particular. Perfect makeup and wigs are the least important aspect in this show, and there’s classic storytelling with a beginning, a middle, and an end. They can expect fun and laughs. However, nobody sees coming how devastating the show becomes at some point. After all, A Drag Is Born is about a man discovering who he is and accepting himself. And many of us, human beings, can relate.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Edu: Although there’s a lot of pain, rage, and riotous activism in my mind as a creator, it’s filtered and subtle enough that the audience leaves with a whole heart, and sometimes tears, which makes me beyond happy.
On the other hand, the wordless nature of the show leads to the unexpected every night, as I invite the audience to join this journey of self-discovery with me. I have lived the most surreal and intense shows of my life. The energy of the audience shocks me and makes me believe that we are creating a collective ritual: a dragxorcism.
Jake: With Edinburgh Fringe 2025 just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Edu: I’m a lonely creator, so having the opportunity to meet people and being in community is what excites me the most. It’s my first Edinburgh Fringe, but the main takeaway I’ve had from past Festivals in the US is the power of community and how important it is to connect with artists and patrons. I always learn a lot. I’m also excited for the professional opportunities this experience will surely bring.
Jake: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Edu: The spirit of this show comes directly from my funniest nights at the Carnival of my hometown, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Not only because in A Drag is Born the character becomes a Queen, which was my dream as a kid, but also because I bring the fun atmosphere of the party in the streets. So this show tastes like Dorada, the local beer in Tenerife. One of the characters in A Drag Is Born, The Hairy Godmother, loves to steal beer from the audience. If you visit ZOO Playground, I highly recommend keeping your drinks safe!
A reminder, you can catch A Drag is Born from August 1st to 24th (not the 12th) at Zoo Playground – Playground 2 from 18:05 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Miguel Garzón
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
