Tales Of Whatever

The Tales of Whatever premise is to focus on the art of storytelling. It’s a notes-free affair, so everything is presented either rehearsed or from the heart, and shows are often themed, with 2016 ending with Fantastic Beasts (November) and The Gift (December). Stage striders’ anecdotal interpretations of these themes lends the experience a very intimate, campfire-lit vibe – minus the campfire on health and safety grounds.

Founded in 2011 by Mark Powell, the Tales of Whatever crew’s fundamentals are showcased on a monthly basis at Gullivers in the Northern Quarter, while they also produce workshops and site-specific storytelling installations to share the secrets of the city.

The band of raconteurs have taken their microphone to arts and literature festivals across the land, including Latitude Festival, Holmfirth Arts Festival and Story City in Leicester, and their roster of headliners has a suitably international feel, as selected speakers have travelled from as far as Buenos Aires and New York, while others have made the trip from Salford, Stockport or Stretford.

Tales of Whatever’s 2017 programme launches on Wednesday 8 February at their regular haunt of Gullivers, where stripper-turned-comic Fern Brady will be performing following her positive reviews for Male Comedienne at last year’s Edinburgh Festival.