ADEY ኣደይ — Edinburgh Fringe 2026

Aim

I’m looking to raise some money to help me take my one-woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe.

My name is Bethlehem Wolday-Myers. I’m a published poet, actress and playwright from north London. I am of dual Eritrean and English descent and this is something I take great pride in, my heritage influencing every step I take in this industry.

I graduated drama school in 2023, feeling very optimistic about my career! I signed very early on with a prestigious agency, and life seemed guaranteed. However - two years had passed, and I had not gotten a single job with my agent. Unsurprisingly, he dropped me out of the blue (via email).

I remember feeling very lost. Almost like all my hard work had been for nothing, like I wasn’t actually talented enough and that it had all been a fluke. I mourned for a while, quickly thinking about what I could do next. Then, it struck me. Writing! Poetry! What had always been there for me way before the acting, way before this industry, was my first love - writing.

Even from my school days, I had received awards for my creative writing. It was what I always enjoyed, my first dream was to become an author! But because I was so focused on the acting path, I hadn’t been pouring into my writing for a while. I had changed course.

I had never written a play before - but I saw an opportunity at London Bubble called Make Space! Which gave young up and coming theatre makers the opportunity to develop a show. You would have a week, free rehearsal space, then ultimately a sharing with the public for feedback. I was hesitant to apply, as I didn’t think I had a play ready. But my friend Morgan pressured me to go for it, so I took the plunge.

I had written many poems about me and my mother’s relationship, her stories of being a young woman in Eritrea, how she sacrificed so much to be here and give us a new life. So I decided to put them all together and began to create ADEY ኣደይ. My mum is my rock. She supports me through everything and anything, always believing in me. And now that I had been dropped by my agent, why not tell that story too and how my mum received the news? 

It hadn’t always been smooth between myself and my mum. Her upbringing and the environment she grew in didn’t have theatre as a disposable option for children or adults, so at times we would clash about why I wasn’t getting any acting gigs. The rest of my Eritrean family are skeptical too, as they don’t believe it’s something “long term” or “guaranteed”. My mum however always puts my happiness first. She was actually the person to enlist me into a performing arts school at a young age. My love of writing and reading came from my dad, who had written a sci-fi novel in his youth, and who would read endless books to myself and my sister as children. My dad is also the driving force behind this project – and who is one of my most trusted critics. Whenever I finish a new poem, I ask my dad to read it! 

Make Space! was a great success. I received overwhelmingly positive feedback. So many people wanted to see a longer version, and so many Eritreans felt represented and proud to see their culture on the stage. Another key reason why I created ADEY ኣደይ is because you don’t hear or see Eritrean culture in the arts. Every time I’ve been to the theatre, it is mainly western culture that is platformed. Theatre already isn’t accessible because of economic barriers - the first time I ever went to the theatre was on a school trip in year 9. Before then, I had never been given the luxury. So, now that I see theatre is expanding and has more representation, I want to contribute my beautiful culture to the scene even further. 

I participated in the Camden Fringe most recently in 2025 at the Cockpit which was a great experience, again receiving even more encouraging feedback. I was able to perform it on two separate nights this time round, and to more people. I had extended the play, and had done a lot of promotion for it in real life via flyers, or online via TikTok. It was a great learning experience but I didn’t manage to find any people willing to come and review my show!

That’s why I know Edinburgh Fringe really is the ONE! It’s the biggest arts festival in Europe, so I am stepping up and being bold by putting myself out there. The exposure out there is unreal, numbers reaching millions in terms of attendees. There are shows available to watch in their HUNDREDS and it is unlike any other festival in the UK. Many of the greats reach their big break because of this festival, but, they don’t tell you how much work it takes. And how much MONEY! Accommodation, travel costs, promotion (adverts and flyers), the venue, food, licensing…the list goes on.

I come from working class roots through and through. My dad coming from a rural town called Oswestry on the English-Welsh border, who worked hard in various jobs from the age of 11. My mum, a first generation Eritrean immigrant, who lived in the midst of the Eritrean-Ethiopian war then moving to England in the 90s. My parents have instilled in me the value of hard work. I work a part time job as a lifeguard, not earning much, and not receiving many benefits as I am on a zero hour contract. I do now have a fabulous new agent who I am extremely grateful for, and I have been successful in getting paid acting gigs with her. I travelled to South Africa, filmed a Compare the Market ad and worked with the BBC.

This industry however is not guaranteed! It is very much a slippery slope of trial and error, and you must create something for yourself if you have the means and talent!

I won a national poetry competition with Heroica magazine in 2024, becoming published in their anthology titled Body Odyssey. This is still my proudest achievement to date. I won Best Poet of the Year Award 2026 with the Mainstream UK, performed my poetry on NTS radio and I’ve been touring and headlining with my poetry at multiple venues and corporate events. ADEY ኣደይ was most recently selected to be a part of the Pleasance Scratch 2026, myself and 13 others out of 200 applicants making the cut.

I know I have the talent, I know I work hard, I just need the support. It’s stressful enough to worry about improving the script then rehearsing it, plus working my part time job, plus helping mum pay the bills, to now funding the Edinburgh Fringe. I just want to be able to create art that is impactful and what can inspire and move a whole generation. The youth need theatre. Especially young Eritreans who are never represented in media. Eritrea as a country has been and continues to go through a lot, and I want more people to be aware of this. We have so many beautiful stories to share, and this is mine.

If there’s one thing I’ve really learned, it’s to never give up. Fiercely defend your dreams and never let anyone take them from you.

Thank you for reading a little about me, and I really hope you can support me. Every penny counts, every share counts and even every read and acknowledgement.

LOVE,

Bethlehem / ቤተልሄም 🌹

🇪🇷🇬🇧❤️✨

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2026 at 12:00am