The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is iconic the world over. Artists from across the world come to Scotland to perform at the summer festival seeking fame, awards, and recognition. But this year, Jewish comedians are seeing their shows canceled because staff at Fringe venues have "safety concerns."
Orthodox Jew and creator of her show "Ultimate Jewish Mother" Rachel Creeger saw her performance at Whistlebinkies canceled. So did Philip Simon, also booked into that venue, who was set to host "Jew-O-Rama", a showcase of Jewish comedians. "We are being canceled and often silently boycotted," Creeger said, per The Daily Mail.
"A joyously funny, interactive comedy show from Rachel Creeger, multi-award-winning stand-up comedian and the only orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit," said the Edinburgh Fringe of Creeger's show before it was canceled and the page was taken down.
Simon was bringing Jew-O-Rama after past successful runs at the Festival, about which the Festival said, "Return of the popular Fringe show that boasts a rolling line-up of Jewish (and Jew-ish) comedians and performers, bringing you the best in neurotic comedy." That was before they took down the page.
They were told just a week before performances were set to begin that their shows were canceled because their being Jewish was a problem for staff. Whistlebinkies was to receive added police protection.
This was not enough for staff, and the venue cancelled the shows. Staff still said they felt "unsafe." Both "Ultimate Jewish Mother" and "Jew-O-Rama" no longer appear in the festival guide. This decision, said Simon, of addressing alleged safety concerns by "removing Jews from the bill," is "emblematic of the problem facing Jewish artists and performers in the UK today."
The concern stems from an incident during last year's festival when an American comedian made an anti-Israel joke and two audience members heckled him before walking out. Anti-semitism has been increasing in Europe as many people have taken the side of Palestinians after Palestinian terror group Hamas staged a violent attack on Israel in October 2023, massacring 1,200 and kidnapping over 200. People were angered that Israel took swift, retaliatory action to defend itself and its citizens.
"The Fringe Society's role is to provide support and advice to all participants at the Festival Fringe with a vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat," said a Fringe Festival spokesperson.
"We stand for freedom of expression, which has been a core principle of the festival since its inception nearly 80 years ago.
"The Fringe Society doesn't manage or programme venues at the festival.
"We understand that the show cancellations have been a choice made by the venue. Our Artist Services team continue to support the artists affected, including in their search for an alternative venue.
"We understand that those conversations are ongoing and hope a resolution is found."
Whistlebinkies is still hosting other shows, including "The Alternative Black Comedy Showcase", "Robin Boot's Rockomedy: Punny for Nothing", comedy showcases, and other programming. The Fringe Festival has over 40 venues around Edinburgh, none of which, apparently, are willing to host the Jewish comedy shows.
