"Made of Magic" hybrid poetry show @ Fringes 2026
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Aim
help a queer, non-binary trans, disabled, neurodivergent multidisciplinary artist revive his autobiographical poetry show in summer 2026
About me
My name is Jude FireSong (he/him), aka Fabulous Phoenix Boy; I am a Scottish-by-inclination multidisciplinary artist; a non-binary trans, polyamorous queer man; and a neurodivergent, mentally ill, disabled survivor.
I have 15+yrs of experience as a spoken word poet, 10+ years of theatre experience on all sides of the stage, and an academic background in English literature, philosophy, and performance studies. My poetic inspirations range from Shakespeare to Walt Whitman, Lawrence Ferlinghetti to Alok Vaid-Menon, with an added sprinkling of pop culture. I am also a writer of speculative fiction (mostly horror/fantasy from the point of view of monsters), and firmly believe the line between fiction and poetry is in itself fictional, and entirely permeable.
As a visual artist, I have supplemented the 8yrs of art and art history I took in school with 5+yrs of experience in set design and scenic art, and a decade of self-taught mixed media art practice as a tool for trauma healing and self-expression. My work has appeared in several local and national exhibitions.
The core themes of my work are intersections of identity, mental health, love and loss, alienation and community, social justice, and storytelling as vocation and catharsis. The aim of my creative practice is to provide representation, healing, and hope to myself and to others: my beloved LGBTQIA+ community; those struggling with mental/chronic illness; and anyone else who has ever been made to feel like an outsider/misfit/freak for simply being themselves, or experimenting with what that might look like.
For links to performance videos, publications, forthcoming shows, etc see my linktree.
About the show
Based on my forthcoming illustrated poetry collection of the same name, 'Made of Magic' is a hybrid spoken word performance and visual art exhibition which tells the story of my fight for sanity and sense of self in the context of a nervous breakdown. It is a love letter to myself as a survivor of complex trauma, and a reminder to everyone who needs it that, even in moments of utter darkness, there’s still so much beauty to be found. Most of all, this deeply personal show for me represents that elusive light at the end of the tunnel. Bringing this work back for its third year at Fringe – in a city I love, which welcomed me with open arms when I most needed a place to call home – means reclaiming and holding onto a life worth living.
For an extra bit of backstory, see my Boost article on BingeFringe, promoting last year's run.
Excerpts
'Latin Lovers' @ Loud Poets 2024-25 Slam Series: St. Andrews Heat (March 2025)
timestamp : 39.19-41.227
[TW for transphobia, fetishisation of trans bodies, non-binary erasure, ableism, mental health stigma, fatphobia]
'Prophecy' @ Loud Poets 2025-26 Slam Series: Edinburgh Heat (Nov 2025)
timestamp: 41.01-42.16
Reviews
Why a crowdfunder?
I have limited capacity for work due to a variety of physical disabillities/chronic pain and injuries, mental health conditions, undiagnosed neurodivergences; I subsist (barely) on Universal Credit and Adult Disability Benefits.
When I first brought the show to Fringe in 2024, I was awarded Keep It Fringe funding; £2,5K which covered about half the cost of the run (in a lovely but alas unsuitable and not central venue). Given the Fringe Society continued involvement with investment firm/genocide profiteers Baillie Gifford, I cannot in good conscience apply for this award again (I only discovered BG was a major Fringe sponsor after being given the award, and in conversation with Fossil Free Books/Artists for Palestine opted to make time in every performance to spread awareness of the genocide in Palestine).
Last year, I took out a loan and several credit cards to fund the second run of the show, and I am still paying those back.
To fund this year's show, I have applied to the Unlimited Open Awards 2025 and Summerhall's Mary Dick Award, both specifically designed to help disabled artists bring their show to Fringe; unfortunately, neither application was successful. I will be applying for an Open Fund for Individuals grant from Creative Scotland, but have been advised that they do not often fund Fringe shows.
I very much don't have the disposable income to fund a Fringe show without outside help, and as you can see, my attempts so far at sourcing that outside help have not worked out. Hence the Crowdfunder.
I believe with all my heart that this is a good, important, timely piece of work - but I cannot do it without you. Please share this with your family, friends, and frenemies; if you're in a position to contribute anything at all (no matter how small) please consider making a donation, so that this fabulous phoenix boy's show about resilience and survival may rise once again.
With deepest gratitude,
Jude FireSong (he/him)
aka Fabulous Phoenix Boy
member of QUILL Scotland & Scottish Artist Union
UPDATE (23/04/26)
Due to low funds + personal health concerns (inc. a chest pain flare that has kept me mostly housebound since before Christmas), I will be unable to bring 'Made of Magic' to the main Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year.
I refuse to be defeated, however!
The new plan:
1) I will be applying to bring the show to the Free Fringe here in Edinburgh. I have discussed my accessibility concerns with the organisers and they were pretty reassuring, so [and provided they can find me 1+ venue(s) with step-free access] I should be able to organise a few non-sequential dates in August. This will allow me to rest and recuperate between show days.
2) I have been invited to bring 3 performances of 'Made of Magic' to Gothenburg Fringe sometime in late August/early September. As well as a very exciting opportunity to debut the show internationally, I think this would be more viable on a budget than the main Edinburgh Festival.
I know from personal travel experience that I can get to Gothenburg with a low cost airline + a very reasonable train, I will happily stay in a budget hostel for a few nights, the venue would be free, and GF don't charge an exorbitant registration fee.
Any funds raised so far/going forward will go towards one of the above productions of 'Made of Magic' this summer.
Thank you for reading this far; for every share & kind donation.
With love & hope,
Jude
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2026 at 11:47pm