Aim

Help support Joe Leather through a herniated disc as he performs his one-person show, WASTEMAN, at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023.

I am taking my show, WASTEMAN, the story of a bin-man who wants to be a drag queen, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. Unfortunately, I have severely injured my back. What I was reassured was muscular has become increasingly painful over the month of July, until after a rehearsal last week I found myself in constant pain and unable to move.

I've been terrified for what this means for WASTEMAN, as a self-funded performer and also as someone who has been working on a piece of art they're incredibly proud of for over a year.

Today, a neurologist and an MRI have confirmed that I have a herniated disc in my C7 vertebrae. The good news is that this is treatable, and this means that the show can go ahead.

I will be performing WASTEMAN at the Edinburgh Fringe, only in a modified form. Obviously it won't be in its full, jumping-into-splits glory. But this show is about turning trash into treasure, garbage into something gorgeous...so that's what we'll do. This is a story off self-acceptance, love and perseverance, and it needs to be told.

However, I'm a team of one. The lost work for the past month, medical bills and need to buy new props/equipment due to modifications have put me in severe financial strain. I physically can't do this on my own any more, and so I'm here to ask for help.

The main way you can support the show is simply by purchasing tickets to it, and recommending it to your friends and family. Full houses and the financial security that brings would be worth so much to me at this time. The show runs at Assembly George Square Studios Underground, 4-28 August (Not 17) at 18:00.

Tickets can be booked here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/wasteman

However, any donations would also be gratefully received. If you're not able to go to Edinburgh, a donation of £15.00 would be the price of a ticket you might have bought had you been able to come.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way thus far. This show was inspired by my friend Paddy, who survived against incredible odds.

I'm meeting Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Friday in a neck-brace. You bet your ass it's gonna be rhinestoned.

This project successfully funded on 5th September 2023