Your Queen Presents: PETRUS

In YOUR QUEEN PRESENTS: PETRUS, Catherine de' Medici herself unveils the wild true story behind Beauty and the Beast. Through shadow puppetry, clown, and stagecraft, the Queen attempts to summon the story of Petrus Gonsalvus, a man from the Canary Islands with hypertrichosis who was taken to the French court during the 16th century. Created and performed by Edu Díaz as Catherine de' Medici, the show blends historical material with camp, absurdity, and contemporary performance language. YOUR QUEEN PRESENTS: PETRUS explores how power transforms bodies into entertainment, how monsters are manufactured, and what remains human underneath performance. This presentation marks the next stage of PETRUS, a large-scale theatrical project inspired by the extraordinary story behind Beauty and the Beast. "Díaz is an exuberant performer." ★★★★ THE STAGE "The audience left wanting more." ★★★★ The Daniels Review "Outrageous persona, impeccable costume." ThINKingDANCEDetailsPresented by: Edu DíazGenres: Clown, Drag, Immersive, Puppetry, Solo Show, TheaterVenue: Asian Arts Initiative Project Space - 1219 Vine StRun time: 45 minsTickets: General Admission $25; PWYC OptionsAdvisory: ages 13+ Violent Content Adult Language Strobe/Flashing Lights Audience Interaction PETRUS addresses mature themes, including abuse of power, exploitation, and othering of bodies, captivity, silencing, and ecological loss. There is no graphic violence, but some moments may feel emotionally tender or uncomfortable through implication, historical context, or language. Dark humor and metatheatrical framing are used throughout. The piece may include abrupt lighting shifts, use of flashlights and other devices, sudden sound cues, changes in volume, and direct address to the audience.Festival tags: LGBT+ Artist, DragPart of the 2026 Philadelphia Fringe Festival (September 8-27, 2026). Full listing and tickets: phillyfringe.org