Two Jewish comedy acts barred from Edinburgh Fringe Festival, staff claimed they felt ‘unsafe’

When they were turned down, Whistle Binkies initially alleged that performers had staged a “vigil” for the IDF the previous year, a claim Creeger and Simon denied.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Two Jewish artists have been barred from performing at a familiar venue as part of Scotland’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival because staff and management reported feeling “unsafe,” Jewish News reports.

Rachel Creeger, whose comedy has won awards, and Phillip Simon were slated to perform at Whistle Binkies, a music venue in the center of Edinburgh, when they were abruptly informed that their shows had been canceled.

The performers were told over the phone that the staff and management felt “unsafe” and were unprepared to take the required security measures to prevent attacks that might arise from those upset at the Jewish nature of the acts.

When they were turned down, Whistle Binkies initially alleged that performers had staged a “vigil” for the IDF the previous year—a claim Creeger and Simon denied.

The artists did report that staff complained about having to remove anti-Israel graffiti ahead of the shows.

Creeger, whose “Ultimate Jewish Mother” show has won a number of awards and who was awarded the Keep It Fringe Bursary at Edinburgh last year, told Jewish News, “We have always found Whistle Binkies to be such a safe and welcoming environment, so we are shocked, deeply upset and disappointed by this decision.”

“We don’t recognize the complaints being made by the bar staff. No incidents occurred during our shows last year. We did not witness any targeted graffiti.

“We had no idea that there was a problem until we were told last Friday that our shows were no longer welcome. With the Fringe launching next week, this has made it nearly impossible to find new venues for the month, and we depend on performing for our livelihoods.

“Sadly, this is part of an ongoing problem faced by Jewish performers in this country. We are being canceled and often silently boycotted.”

Given the rise of antisemitism after Oct. 7, often in artistic spaces, Creeger started a support group for Jewish performers at the Fringe to cope with potential harassment they may face at the festival.

She said, “Since Oct. 7, virtually every Jewish performer I know has witnessed antisemitism in the industry, and in recent months the situation has escalated. I’ve seen threads on social media targeting Jewish performers and warning them that Zionists are not welcome, that they should beware of setting foot in Edinburgh.”

Simon’s Jew-O-Rama show, which hosts “a rolling line-up of Jewish and ‘Jew-ish’ comedians and performers,” would have performed its ninth consecutive year at the Fringe Festival.

He said, “Our show is about fun and comedy, not geopolitics. It is disheartening to find out so late in the day that we have lost our venue.”

Simon added that he had already printed flyers and advertised the performance. “It is hurtful that instead of reassuring the young bar staff who raised concerns, the solution was to remove the Jews from the bill. This is emblematic of the problem facing Jewish artists and performers in the U.K. today.”