Roe McDonnell
LGBTQIA+ Fringe performers read their real teenage diaries, angsty poetry, thirsty fanfic and terrible tumblr posts. A different line-up of queer performers every night, sharing hilariously cringe-but-true tales from their coming-of-age era.
From the moment you walk through the door, Beth – the graciously chaotic host – makes everyone feel so comfortable making the room open itself up into discussion to get them warmed up and then starting the night off with diary entries of her 14 year old self with her best friend at the time, Lindsey and the chaotic gay things they would be up to in the early 2000s.
During this event, three readers (who signed up beforehand) read/told their own stories from their past selves, selves before they came out, selves before they grew the confidence and selves before they reached where they were today creatively or not.
This evening’s stories were a Swiss queer thesis explanation, stories from childhood up to adulthood and someone’s first play with the iconic line of ‘hey dad, where’s dad?’
Each of these performances by normal everyday people were absolutely stunning, the welcome the audience and Beth gave to each one really felt like a friend was just telling a story. With all generations of queer people in the room, it was interesting to see what angles people were taking with each revelation and slowly the room opened up into more discussions and what the future will look like for us.
Every night is different so this is one that you can easily make a tradition, but the midnight start does send you off into the depths of the night.
You can catch Queer Diary at the Laughing House until 31 Aug at 23:45 (60mins). Tickets are available to book through the Edinburgh Fringe Box Office and to sign up to read your own queer diary on the Queer Diary website.
Vasthy Mompoint
Isobel Jacob
Freddie Haberfellner
