A NEW SHOW BY EDU DÍAZ
THE TRUE STORY THAT INSPIRED ‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’
Paris, 1559.
The king is dead. Queen Catherine of Médici has a brilliant plan to fix the kingdom's finances: making theater.
With the help of the forgetful Nostradamus, the Queen uses Petrus, a hairy creature, to throw big spectacles in the Court.
But when cruelty becomes art, and art becomes business… who’s really the beast?
PETRUS is a metatheatrical show that addresses displacement and abuse of power in the context of the ecological and cultural collapse.
Currently in development, it will premiere in the Fall of 2026.
Meet the real Petrus
PETRUS explores and imagines biographical gaps in the real and tragic story of Petrus Gonsalvus, aka ‘the man of the woods.’
His story began in Tenerife (Canary Islands) in the 16th century. Affected by hypertrichosis, Petrus was sold to Henry II of France at the age of only 10, as an exotic creature.
The King kept him in the menagerie with the exotic animals of the Court. However, Petrus was brilliant and learned Math, Science, French, and Latin.
A beautiful courtesan was forced to marry the werewolf. They had several children, some of whom, as furry as Petrus, were gifted to other European Courts.
You probably guessed that this story inspired the first version of Beauty and the Beast, written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot.
Five centuries later, another native of Tenerife is imagining a show about his last years at the French Court.
The Queen´s Journal
Circa 2014 | Tenerife Island
Edu's mom showed him a dusty book about Petrus Gonsalvus and suggested his story be a show. Excellent taste, María Belén. He misses you so much.
End of 2022 | New York City
Due to Edu's new circumstances as an immigrant, he was finally inspired to write early versions around the topic out of context. Procrastination manifests in different shapes.
2024 | New York City
The Spanish General Consulate in New York City intends to support the project. Not the first time the Consulate supports this creator. Surprising taste, dear Consulate.
Winter 2025 | New York City
Edu was invited to participate in Jeremy O'Harris's workshop, 'Writing the Black Play,' at the multi-award-winning Tectonic Theatre Project.
Spring 2025 | New York City
PETRUS got selected for the 10-week Writer's Intensive at THE WORKSHOP THEATRE, where Edu could go deeper on the show's topics and the character's flaws. The others, as I don't have any -I'm the Queen.
July 2025 | Edinburgh
While in Edinburgh, preparing for the premiere of A Drag Is Born, Edu knew he was a 2025 NoMAA Grantee, made possible by the support of the Hispanic Federation & NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
August 2025 | Edinburgh
While losing gold with A Drag Is Born in the Edinburgh Fringe, Edu knew that he had the support of THE PUFFIN FOUNDATION. He jumped for joy on the street while wearing the Hairy Godmother dress.
Fall 2025 | New York City
Preproduction officially begins. Your Queen went personally to a Clown show to pitch PETRUS, and it was a great experience.
The menagerie needs you.
The Queen is looking for a creative and production team for this savage adventure. If you want to join the PETRUS team and/or support the project, let's talk.
