The outrageous solo comedy show by Turan Ali, back by popular demand!

Straight Talking is back for a third time, written and performed by Turan Ali, who hosts and produces Volkstheater’s hit monthly show TRUE STORY NIGHTS (now in its 4th year of sold out performances). After selling out in Volkstheater Rote Bar twice in 2025, this is a final chance to see Ali’s outrageously funny and thought-provoking solo comedy show, Straight Talking.

An evening of shockingly candid truths. Where do straights go wrong in their lives? What can gays can teach straights about leading the lives they really want to live? Mixing comedy-storytelling, performance poems, ukulele songs, fabulous costumes and much more, Ali delivers outrageous claims with his much-celebrated, provocative direct-speaking.

What the critics have said about Turan Ali :
“Utterly fabulous.” (The Q Review)
"An absolutely splendid human…a masterful storyteller" (The Wee Review)
“Like the best stand-up comedians, his material has been tried, tested and perfected for an audience. It was a joy to watch” (Broadway Baby)
“Highly recommended! Entertaining, educational and emotive” (Fringe Review)

Turan Ali is an acclaimed stand-up comedian and storyteller from London, now based in Vienna with a very Turkish name, Austrian roots and a big mouth. He writes, produces and directs drama and comedy for the BBC, and performs comedy and stories on stage throughout Europe. This is high quality, intelligent, camp and provocatively queer comedy. An outrageously clever solo show.

“I laughed my arse off the whole night” (audience member April 2025)

Ali makes sense of having a Turkish Muslim father, an Austrian Catholic mother, growing up in London, going to a Jewish school, and being gay and proud of it. But not all parts of his world cope well with that pride. In this solo show, Straight Talking, Ali shines a light on some of the crazy ways heterosexuals run their lives and relationships, with many surprising things he claims straights can learn from gays.

Expect outrageous stories, silliness, shocking confessions and incendiary suggestions, all delivered very queerly, through exceedingly straight talking. But, however funny it is, can you handle the truth?

Rote Bar

Schedule in January