Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#128): Jonny Woo, SUBURBIA
As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect. Today, we’re joined by Jonny Woo to find out more about Suburbia.
1. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?
Suburbia is a mix of theatre, cabaret, drag, burlesque and story-telling and loosely tells the story of my journey from living in the suburbs to finding myself in the big cities of London and New York. Life behind the safety of the net curtains of my home town is switched for the hedonism of the drug fuelled party scene of London and the sex clubs of the Big Apple. I felt like my story of a gay man, coming of age in the 1990's at a time when the country was awash with ecstasy and yet still cowering under the spectre of the AIDS epidemic hadn't been told. I've memories of my first 'drag' inspiration and the first man I slept with and I've been thinking how these moments, no matter how brief, can affect us so profoundly later in life. I also inherited some gorgeous frocks recently from a mysterious, anonymous source. They make an appearance in the show and offer a counterpoint to the wild life I sought to pursue.
2. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?
When I performed the show at Soho Theatre, I felt like it was a show that had a lot of elements which make a good Fringe show, without having set out to make a 'fringe show'. It felt organic. It's got burlesque, audience participation (a bit), shock value, personal revelation, twists, turns and surprises. And I really enjoy performing it. I said I'd only bring a solo show to Fringe again if I was really sure of what I'd made and I feel that way about this piece. I love sharing my story this way. It feels like, me. And I’m 52, baby. I aint gonna be doing this forever. Now or never!
3. How would you describe your show in three words?
Wild Vulnerable Joyous
4. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?
To take life by both hands and give it your best shot. Looking back I was always wanting to feel alive and to feel present. I talk about how the drug ecstasy offered me this. The early 90's was a special time. It felt like a movement, so much more than just going out. I'm not saying go and take drugs, but get involved with something. If you are young, be in touch with what’s important to your generation and your friends and be part of the moment. It's ephemeral but vital. If you are older, take joy in remembering the chaos of youth and hold on to that and maybe bring a little bit of that fervour back. We are the same person. I feel like I'm the same person. I love remembering the highs and finding new (less damaging) ones. And remember we all have such different journeys. There is joy and validity in all.
5. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?
As an artist? I wish I knew the secret. Keep healthy. Get sleep. Get involved. See other people's stuff. Love your audience. Don't be afraid to say when you feel down and be ready to give hugs when you are up. As a festival goer - take risks, see tons of stuff you don't usually see. Use your instinct not just star listings. Embrace the Fringe and all the oddness it has to offer. Enjoy Edinburgh and get to some pubs, restaurants or clubs and bars away from the Fringe and get to do things the Scottish way.
6. Where and when can people see your show?
Summerhall - Main Hall, 31 July - 25 August (not 12, 19), 13:35 (60 mins)
