The performers cited the outpour of support from the comedy community, with fellow performers, venues and audiences rallying around them
August 6, 2025 12:58
Two Jewish comedians who were told their shows could not go ahead at an Edinburgh Fringe venue days before the festival opened have found new homes for their work, following an outpouring of support from audiences, fellow performers and other venues.
Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon had both been scheduled to perform at Whistlebinkies, a free Fringe venue, this August.
Creeger was due to present her show Ultimate Jewish Mother, while Simon was set to host Jew-O-Rama, a rotating showcase of Jewish comedians.
But in late July, they were informed that the venue was “no longer willing to host them,” citing “safety concerns” for its staff.
The comedians said they were blindsided by the decision, which came after they had already invested in promotional material and accommodation for the month-long festival.
According to the pair, the venue had raised concerns about staff feeling “unsafe” as additional security measures were being discussed in light of potential threats to Jewish acts.
“This has been without doubt, the most exhausting Fringe,” Simon told the JC.
“It’s day five of the Fringe and it feels like we’re ready to go home, just from the amount of walking, trying to get the word out about our shows and, on top of that, the fallout from the cancellations.
"The support has been amazing, but having to retell the story 19 times in one walk down the street is shattering.”
Creeger described the experience as “a bit like being dumped by your ex and still having to live on the same street”.
While the support has been heartening, she said: “It has also tiring because people want that inside scoop. But we’ve felt wrapped in a big hug by the comedy community, which is really special.”
Many audience members and fellow comics have expressed outrage, both at the lack of notice given and at the idea that a comedian’s religion could determine where they were able to perform.
“People are outraged that being Jewish means we’re suddenly spokespeople for an entire country 4,000 miles away,” Simon added.
“It raises real questions about how fragile the relationship with promoters and venues can be.”
And Creeger said that they were both surprised by the decision given the nature of their shows. “They’re warm, funny, sweet, not political,” she said.
“Other Jewish artists are understandably worried about what this means. That’s one reason we wanted to go public, so venues think twice before doing this to other Jewish performers.”
However, following the cancellation, both comedians have now been offered new spaces.
Creeger’s Ultimate Jewish Mother will now run from August 7 to 17 at the Big Tent at Nicolson Square Gardens, before transferring to Dirty Martini at the Le Monde Hotel from August 18 to 24.
Both new venues have allowed entry to the show to remain on a donation basis to maintain accessibility, despite being ticketed spaces.
Simon’s solo show Shall I Compare Thee in a Funny Way will also run at the Big Tent from August 7 to 17. His children’s show continues at Dirty Martini, while Jew-O-Rama is being lined up for special one-off performances at other venues.
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