Edu Díaz Brings Award-Winning 'A Drag is Born' to Tenerife for Pride Celebration
Canarian actor Edu Díaz returns to the Auditorio de Tenerife on June 19 to perform his award-winning, drag-inspired solo show A Drag is Born as part of the island's LGTBIQA+ Pride celebrations.
On June 19, the Auditorio de Tenerife will host A Drag is Born, a landmark performance for Canarian actor Edu Díaz. After building a successful international career in the United States and the United Kingdom, Díaz returns to his home island for this special event, which is part of the Tenerife government’s LGTBIQA+ Pride celebrations.
The show moves away from traditional dialogue, instead using clowning, drag aesthetics, and magical realism to tell its story. Through physical comedy, Díaz explores his own experience with homophobic violence, turning personal trauma into a powerful act of activism and identity. By highlighting queer visibility, the production supports the island’s commitment to social awareness and celebrates the importance of local artistic role models.
Since its 2024 premiere, the play has seen great success. Developed in New York—including at the historic Stonewall Inn—it has won seven international awards, including Best Solo Performer at the 2025 LATA Awards and Best Show at the 2024 Orlando Fringe. For Díaz, performing in Tenerife is deeply meaningful, as it serves as a tribute to the drag pioneers who influenced him during his youth.
Díaz has been based in New York since 2019, when he moved there on a Fulbright scholarship. His work, which includes productions like Fantastic Mr. S, Pulse, and Lipstick, focuses on themes of resilience and transformation. He is currently developing Petrus, a large-scale project about Petrus Gonsalvus, a historical figure from Tenerife believed to be the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast.
A Drag is Born was brought to life by director Rachel Resnik, assistant director Tinna Hoffmann, and international producer Jess Ducey. With over a decade of experience across film and theater, Díaz returns to the Canary Islands to share a poetic and thought-provoking look at modern identity.