Latest news with #EddieJen
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
US performers seek safety and risk at the Edinburgh Fringe
By Muvija M and Barbara Lewis (Reuters) -Eddie Jen, a drag queen from San Francisco, wants to show that "America still fights for kindness", while Abby Govindan, a U.S. stand-up comic of Indian heritage, aims to convince audiences Texas is not what they think. The performers are among those who make the number of U.S. acts at this year's Edinburgh Fringe the highest in at least a decade. The Edinburgh International Festival, held every August, was established in the aftermath of World War Two with the goal of using culture to heal divisions. It immediately spawned an unofficial Fringe that became bigger than the original festival, attracting thousands of more maverick performers in venues across the city. This year's Fringe includes productions from Armenia to Zimbabwe, organisers say. The percentage of U.S. acts is 12.1%, compared with 11.1% last year and 6.1% in 2014. No earlier data is available. British acts have decreased to 69.8% of the total, from 71.2% in 2024, and 81.5% in 2014. Performers have said high costs, especially for accommodation, are a deterrent. For U.S. artists, that can matter less. Their numbers had already risen as producers chose Edinburgh to test the appeal of musicals as a cheaper alternative to Broadway. U.S. President Donald Trump, who changed laws on diversity after he returned to office in January, making many artists anxious about freedom of expression, is a factor. Govindan said she would have brought her show "How to Embarrass Your Immigrant Parents" to Edinburgh "regardless of politics". Her aims include doing justice to Texas, which she says is "commonly misrepresented as white and racist". "Houston, my hometown, is the most diverse city in the country," she said. Jen is also keen to get beyond stereotypes with "Seeking a Pen Pal for the End of the World" that tells the story of an immigrant drag queen exchanging letters with his high school English teacher - a retired, white, Republican woman from Bountiful, Utah. "When Trump was re-elected in November, I wanted to let the world know that America still fights for kindness," Jen said. The number of Canadian acts at the Fringe has hovered around 1% for the last decade. Connor Malbeuf, who has lived in the United States for eight years, says the Fringe is "a safe space" for his show "Sorry: A Canadian's Apology for America". "There's no better neutral ground to comment on the absurdity, political landscape, and poke the bear without the bear threatening the possibility of deportation," he said. For Govindan, whose comedy is established in the United States, Edinburgh amounts to healthy risk-taking. "Being here is really pushing me out of my comfort zone in a way that is undoubtedly going to make me a better performer and comedian," she said.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
US performers seek safety and risk at the Edinburgh Fringe
Aug 8 (Reuters) - Eddie Jen, a drag queen from San Francisco, wants to show that "America still fights for kindness", while Abby Govindan, a U.S. stand-up comic of Indian heritage, aims to convince audiences Texas is not what they think. The performers are among those who make the number of U.S. acts at this year's Edinburgh Fringe the highest in at least a decade. The Edinburgh International Festival, held every August, was established in the aftermath of World War Two with the goal of using culture to heal divisions. It immediately spawned an unofficial Fringe that became bigger than the original festival, attracting thousands of more maverick performers in venues across the city. This year's Fringe includes productions from Armenia to Zimbabwe, organisers say. The percentage of U.S. acts is 12.1%, compared with 11.1% last year and 6.1% in 2014. No earlier data is available. British acts have decreased to 69.8% of the total, from 71.2% in 2024, and 81.5% in 2014. Performers have said high costs, especially for accommodation, are a deterrent. For U.S. artists, that can matter less. Their numbers had already risen as producers chose Edinburgh to test the appeal of musicals as a cheaper alternative to Broadway. U.S. President Donald Trump, who changed laws on diversity after he returned to office in January, making many artists anxious about freedom of expression, is a factor. Govindan said she would have brought her show "How to Embarrass Your Immigrant Parents" to Edinburgh "regardless of politics". Her aims include doing justice to Texas, which she says is "commonly misrepresented as white and racist". "Houston, my hometown, is the most diverse city in the country," she said. Jen is also keen to get beyond stereotypes with "Seeking a Pen Pal for the End of the World" that tells the story of an immigrant drag queen exchanging letters with his high school English teacher - a retired, white, Republican woman from Bountiful, Utah. "When Trump was re-elected in November, I wanted to let the world know that America still fights for kindness," Jen said. The number of Canadian acts at the Fringe has hovered around 1% for the last decade. Connor Malbeuf, who has lived in the United States for eight years, says the Fringe is "a safe space" for his show "Sorry: A Canadian's Apology for America". "There's no better neutral ground to comment on the absurdity, political landscape, and poke the bear without the bear threatening the possibility of deportation," he said. For Govindan, whose comedy is established in the United States, Edinburgh amounts to healthy risk-taking. "Being here is really pushing me out of my comfort zone in a way that is undoubtedly going to make me a better performer and comedian," she said.
Daily Record
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Edinburgh Fringe performer claims youths branded him a 'lady boy' during attack
Eddie Jen claims the male youths "beat him on the head", ripped off his bow and poured their drinks on him. An Edinburgh Fringe performer has claimed he was called a 'lady boy' by youths who allegedly attacked him on the Royal Mile. Eddie Jen, who uses he/she pronouns, is performing his show 'Seeking a PenPal For the End of the World' to the festival this year. Before it starts he was out handing out flyers but says he was accosted by a gang of thugs on Tuesday, July 29, reports Edinburgh Live. Eddie claims the male youths "beat him on the head", ripped off his bow and poured their drinks on him. Speaking out since the incident, Eddie said "it all happened so quickly". He added: "I was just so excited and happy to be in Edinburgh and to start with, I got great reactions. The youngsters aren't even a minority and they aren't speaking for everyone. "It all happened so quickly, they just came up to me and started saying 'are you a lady boy?' and 'are you a boy or a girl?' "I remained polite but as I went back to my corner to continue flyering, they hit my head, ripped off my bow and poured their drinks over me. It all happened within two minutes. "I was honestly in shock but I am so glad I was able to film it all and get people talking about this." The performer from San Francisco said she isn't letting the incident dampen her time in Edinburgh. Eddie has met a lot of kind people in the capital - including one man who assisted after the incident. She added: "There was one kind Scottish gentleman who came up to me to see if I was okay. "I really am an optimist and I am able to get the full Fringe experience right now. I mean so far, I have been harassed and done shows with no attendance so it seems I am getting everything bad out the way in the first week. "Last year I came to the Fringe to see if I was up to par and I absolutely loved it - the city is magical, there really is something about it. "I went out flyering again yesterday, I put on the same outfit and I kept going. I am just so excited to be here." Getting over 200,000 views, the clip has since gone viral and many people have offered their support to the performer. The video was captioned: "I was attacked in drag at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. It's my first solo show. "I was so excited to flyer and find an audience and then a group of young men began harassing me. They beat me on the head, ripped off my bow and poured their drinks on me." Almost 1000 comments have come in after the short clip was posted online. One person said: "Why is it always teenagers? Where are their parents? "I'm terrified of teenage boys in Edinburgh, they're just looking for trouble." A second said: "That's so bad a member of the public has to explain this is not how Scotland is and excusing their bad behaviour." "I'm so sorry this happened to you. I live in Edinburgh and unfortunately this type of stuff happens a lot. It's horrible but not all teenagers are like that", a third commented. Eddie's show started yesterday and will run at Just The Tonic at the Caves at 1.05pm until August 24. A description of the show reads: "After Trump 1.0's mob breached the US capitol to destroy democracy on January 6th, 2021, an immigrant drag queen attorney from San Francisco began writing to a retired, White, Republican woman in Bountiful, Utah – his high school English teacher from thirty years ago. "What happens when the political discussions stop and the personal begins? Can you really be friends with your former teacher? An interactive performance, with reading and writing prompts. We tell the story of our lives. For everyone who remembers their English teachers most fondly. You can find out more about Eddie's show here.
Daily Record
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Moment Edinburgh Fringe performer 'attacked by youths' on Royal Mile
Eddie Jen was accosted by a gang of youths as he gave out flyers for his show. A performer was "harassed by a group of youths" as he handed out flyers for his show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Eddie Jen, who uses he/she pronouns, is performing his 'Seeking a PenPal For the End of the World' show at the festival this year. The entertainer was handing out flyers dressed in drag but was left devastated with the manner one of the group treated her, reports Edinburgh Live. The moment, which was captured on video, shows two young, male youths approach Eddie outside a corner shop. Sharing the clip online, he claims the duo "beat him on the head", ripped off his bow and poured their drinks on him. Getting over 200,000 views, the video clip has since gone viral and many people have offered their support to the performer. The footage was captioned: "I was attacked in drag at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. It's my first solo show. "I was so excited to flyer and find an audience and then a group of young men began harassing me. They beat me on the head, ripped off my bow and poured their drinks on me." Afterwards another male comes up to Eddie and offers some napkins before asking what happened. The male said: "They're just harassing folk for clout. Don't worry, it's not how we are here. You are welcome." Almost 1000 comments have come in after the short clip was posted online. One person said: "Why is it always teenagers? Where are their parents? "I'm terrified of teenage boys in Edinburgh, they're just looking for trouble." A second said: "That's so bad a member of the public has to explain this is not how Scotland is and excusing their bad behaviour." "I'm so sorry this happened to you. I live in Edinburgh and unfortunately this type of stuff happens a lot. It's horrible but not all teenagers are like that", a third commented. You can find out more about Eddie's show here.
