LGBTQ+, Storytelling

Queer Folks' Tales

with Turan Ali, Jo Gilbert, Eliott Simpson & Mia Suhaimi

(Fri 6 Feb: 7:30pm)

Queer Folks’ Tales continues its fifth year in the Scottish home of storytelling, with rave reviews and even an award under its belt!

In the week following Burns night, Queer Folks' Tales is back with a queer line-up featuring two performers working in Scots. As always, LGBTQ+ storytellers galore from around Edinburgh and Scotland share stories of queer lives, past, present and future. Sometimes hilarious, often moving, occasionally shocking, the mix of true and fictional stories is as varied as the range of performers we invite. Household names feature alongside new and diverse queer storytellers from the different communities of Scotland. Many of the tales told will be true stories of LGBTQ+ experience in Scotland today. Hosted by Edinburgh’s Turan Ali, joined on 6 Feb by poet Jo Gilbert, stand-up Eliott Simpson and poet-writer-singer Mia Suhaimi.

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Turan Ali has been a producer, director and writer of BBC radio dramas and comedies for over 25 years. He’s been a stage storyteller since 2012, and a stand up since 2019. He tours internationally and has two sell out monthly storytelling shows in Vienna. He’s the creator, producer and host of Queer Folks’ Tales for which he won the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024. QFT now tours across Scotland and is Creative Scotland funded.

Jo Gilbert is a spoken word artist and writer from Aberdeen. Their work has featured on STV news, BBC Radio 4 (Tongue and Talk), and in exhibitions, films and even a mural. They’ve also been involved with StAnza Poetry Festival, Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums, National Theatre of Scotland and Aberdeen Performing Arts. Their debut poetry collection WTF is normal anyway? was nominated for a Scots Language award in 2023.

Eliott Simpson is an eccentric, autistic, asexual and award-winning comedian who has gigged all across the UK and USA for over 10 years. He created the hit sell-out shows The Diversity Quota & Dr. Bonk's Macarbaret, produced the UK's 1st Asexual stand-up show, performed on both BBC Scotland & BBC Radio and was nominated for 4 Proud Scotland Awards and won the UK Pun-Off Joke of the Fringe 2025. Surreal, witty and unique.

Mia J Suhaimi is a Scottish-Malaysian poet and writer. She has had her work published in the Scottish periodical Northwords Now and the Irish magazine Aerach Aiteach Gaelach. She writes poetry and short stories in Malay, Scots and Scottish Gaelic and has performed her work in Scotland and abroad. In 2025 she was included in The List's Top 100 Scottish Artists for her contributions to Gaelic literature.

 'Triumphant' (All Edinburgh Theatre)
★★★★★ 'Edinburgh's most vibrant, authentic and exciting storytelling event' (The Wee Review)
★★★★★ 'Utterly fabulous' (TheQR.co.uk)
★★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com)
MUST SEE 'Legendary' (Fringe Review)

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Queer Folks' Tales is supported by Creative Scotland

• Storytelling
• £14.00
• 6 February 2026
• 120 minutes
• 19:30
• Scottish Storytelling Centre
• Netherbow Theatre
• 18+
• 
  This event may contain strong language/swearing. Some stories may have content which is sensitive or triggering to audiences.