LGBTQ+, Storytelling

Queer Folks' Tales 5th Birthday Show!

with Turan Ali, Cera Impala, Janette Ayachi, Jo Clifford, Madhushika Fernando, Mike McKenzie & Tom Harlow

(Fri 9 Oct: 7:30pm)

Queer Folks’ Tales celebrates its FIFTH birthday exactly where it started in October 2021, in Scotland’s national theatre for storytelling, with rave reviews and awards under its belt!

Queer Folks’ Tales birthday line-up is packed with some of our regular storytellers from our first 5 years. As always, our LGBTQ+ storytellers 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 storytellers we invite. As always, many of the stories told on Queer Folks' Tales evenings will be true stories of LGBTQ+ experience in Scotland today. Hosted as ever by Edinburgh’s Turan Ali, who is joined for the fifth birthday show by poet Janette Ayachi, playwright Jo Clifford, stand-up Madhushika Fernando, boylesque artist Tom Harlow and singer-songwriters Cera Impala and Mike McKenzie.

Winner of Somewhere For Us Best of the Queer Fringe Award 2026
 '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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Cera Impala is prolific, spell-casting singer-songwriter with a whiskey-honeyed voice and intimately crafted, transporting songs. This powerhouse multi-instrumentalist has toured internationally with her handpicked band, The New Prohibition. A double album is due soon.

Janette Ayachi is a celebrated Scottish-Algerian poet with many publications and awards to her name. Her poetry, prose & essays have been published internationally & translated into many languages.

Jo Clifford is a Scottish national treasure, a playwright, performer, proud father, grandmother, queer church elder and saint with 114 plays to her credit including the internationally performed The Gospel According to Jesus Queen of Heaven.

Madhushika Fernando identifies as a Sri Lankan/Italian stand-up, psychotherapist, illustrator and life model. She was selected for the BBC New Comedy Awards 2024 and is a regular on the Scottish comedy scene.

Mike McKenzie is an award-winning independent indie-pop and folk-Americana singer, songwriter, producer with albums to his name. He won BBC Radio Scotland’s Singer-Songwriter of the Year (2019). His music has aired on BBC Radios 2, 6 Music & Scotland.

Tom Harlow is an international and award-winning showboy, chanteur and host based in Glasgow. A regular on the cabaret scene in Scotland, Tom has performed internationally and has been Miss Burlesque Scotland.

Turan Ali has been a producer, director and writer of BBC radio dramas and comedies for over 25 years and is a storyteller and stand-up who tours internationally. He is a multiple award-winner as founder/producer/host of Queer Folks’ Tales and for his radio productions.

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Queer Folks' Tales is supported by Creative Scotland

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