Q2Q: A Queer Barns Series
Queer joy is vital. Queer expression is powerful. And Queer community deserves space to gather, create, and celebrate.
Q2Q: A Queer Barns Series invites you into that space.
What is Q2Q: A Queer Barns Series?
Hosted at the Fringe Grounds Cafe, Q2Q brings together Queer Artists and Audiences for a series of events designed to support and uplift the joy, tenacity, and vibrant creativity so present in Edmonton’s Queer community.
Inspired by the cue-to-cue process in theatre, Q2Q uplifts the moments that matter: spotlighting Queer voices and creating meaningful space for experimentation, collaboration, transformation, and Queer community building. With platforms for compelling performances, valuable creative mentorship, deep dives in Queer history and experience, each event is an opportunity for connection in community.
Come for the art, stay for the friends you make along the way.
Check out a list of upcoming events below – and don’t miss what’s next. Join the Fringe FanClub for early announcement, new events, and more on all the magic happening at the Arts Barns.
Cue the Queers – An Open Mic
When: every Wednesday at 7:00PM at the Fringe Grounds Cafe, starting June 10!
Tickets: This is a free event. No ticket needed, Drop-ins welcome.
Price: Free!
Come to be seen, come to be heard, and come as you are.
A stage for every voice: music, poetry, comedy, and everything in between. Share, cheer, and celebrate queer creativity in a space that’s warm, welcoming, joyfully judgement-free.
Each night will bring new magic, new mischief, and a whole lot of Queer creativity as we are hosted by Queer Artists from across Edmonton who are there for inspiration and encouragement!
Interested in performing? Register when you arrive!
Angela Begin – Singer/Songwriter
Based between Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) & Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), Angela Begin is a singer-songwriter, radio host & music educator who creates music reflective of the lands, waters, winds & skies that raised her. Inspired by the natural world and the themes of spaciousness, temporality & transformation, her music is an ethereal blend of alternative-rock & indie-folk with detours into country, grunge, jazz-folk & shoegaze. Angela has shared stages with emerging Canadian artists like Museums, Fionavair, Elbow Kiss, Rachella Wred, Amanda Penner & Esther Forseth. Her music has been featured by CBC and her most notable performances have been Skirtsafire Festival’s Key of Me Song Circle in Edmonton, and McGill’s Lilith Fair & CJLO’s Dead Air Fest in Montreal. Angela is also the host of The Spacious Astrology Playlist on CJLO 1690AM in Montreal.
As a facilitator for the Edmonton Fringe’s Q2Q Open Mic series, Angela is excited to pull from her resources, expertise & community connections to create welcoming, inspiring & joy-filled events that will enrich Edmonton’s queer & artistic communities.
Leif Oleson-Cormack – Comedian
With his playfully subversive voice and dark sense of humour, Leif Oleson-Cormack is redefining the boundaries of queer comedy in Canada. A Juilliard-trained playwright and former video game writer, Leif crafts unforgettably confessional stories that are both wildly vulnerable and hilariously relatable.
His critically acclaimed solo show, The Disney Delusion, toured to sold-out houses across Canada, the US, and the UK and was nominated for the Just For Laughs Award for Outstanding English Comedy at the Montreal Fringe. Leif has performed at dozens of festivals worldwide, including Just for Laughs NW, Seattle International Comedy Competition, Edinburgh Fringe and the Grindstone Comedy Festival.
Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leifoc
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leifoc
Sophie Hayes – Comedian
Known for clever wordplay and absurd anecdotes from her personal life, Sophie Haze blends deadpan delivery with a classic observational style.
Since launching her comedy career in 2018, Sophie has performed across Canada, from Montreal’s Gigglefest to Edmonton’s Grindstone Comedy Festival.
Beyond the stage, Sophie can be heard on her podcast, Community Diagnosis, and on Sirius XM.
Socials:
Instagram: @sophhaze and @commdiagnosis
Website: https://sophhaze.com/
Nerd Nite: We’re Making it Gay!
When: June 25, 2026 7:30PM
Tickets: tickets.fringetheatre.ca
Price: Offer What You Will
Queer existence is full of lessons – about who we are, how we endure, and the revolutionary impact of our love!
Hosted in partnership with our pals at Nerd Nite Edmonton, we’re inviting you to settle in for a night of drinks, deep dives, and delightfully nerdy talks, all through a Queer lens.
Zita Dube-Lockhart
Your Brain On Bonds: Community, Connection, and the Science of Resilience
The Science of Resilience explores how stress shapes our minds, bodies, and communities, and why human connection plays a central role in resilience, healing, and growth.
Zita (they/she) works at the intersection of mind, body, social environment, and clinically significant levels of overcommitment. They hold an MA in Counselling Psychology and an embarrassingly complicated relationship with their voicemail.
Zita is a co-owner of Action Potential Fitness, co-founder of the Centre for Trauma Informed Fitness, and a counselling therapist at the Alberta Wellness Centre for Eating Disorders, bouncing between roles in what can only be described as interdisciplinary chaos.
You can call Zita many things…but they’d really rather you text instead.
Socials:
@the.fitnessanarchist
@actionpotentialfitness
@cftif_canada
Evan Westfal
The relationship between homosexuality and fecundity: Why Being Gay Helps a Species Survive and Reproduce
In this talk, Evan explains to you why being gay really helps different animal species survive. Have you ever wondered why homosexuality has persisted through millions of years of evolution? Shouldn’t being gay lead to less reproduction? Is being gay natural? All these answers and more will be offered in a talk that is playful, intellectual, and hella gay!
Evan Westfal (he/him) is the Programs Manager for the Fyrefly Institute for Gender & Sexual Diversity housed within the University of Alberta, he chairs the Rainbow Alliance Youth Edmonton Committee, and has served as a curriculum advisor for the Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN). Basically, Evan is professionally gay!
Socials:
@evanwestfal
Allison Hadley
The Rainbow Connection – Exploring the intersections between queer culture and nerd culture.
When a queer person does not have any 2SLGTQIA+ mentors or community in their life, how do they find belonging? It is often in the safe(r) spaces of nerdy fandoms where acceptance in fantasy settings can turn into a sense of real life belonging. Why are so many trans people drawn to Deep Space Nice and Fallout: New Vegas? Is Dungeons and Dragons inherently queer? The answers may not be as simple as you think.
Allison Hadley is a podcast host, author, activist and drag performer. She is passionate about building community resilience through queer joy. She is also a big ol’ nerd who grew up on science fiction and tabletop roleplaying games.
Socials:
@RainbowConPod
@TotAllie_Radical
@StabithaDrag
Drag Bootcamp
When: July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 31
Tickets: tickets.fringetheatre.ca
Price: Offer What You Will (All Workshops Included)
Calling your inner Diva! Do you come alive at the thought of wigs, heels, and a killer reveal… do we have the workshop for you!
From first look to final lip sync, Drag Bootcamp is lead by some of the most legendary Queens and Kings in all of YEG who will help you build confidence, skills, and a drag persona that’s unapologetically you. This series of workshops is designed for never-before-seen and emerging Drag Artists. No experience? No problem!
Every participant will receive 4 workshops throughout July, and an opportunity to perform a piece
Note: Many materials and supplies will be provided to you, but you will be asked to provide your own costume, clothing, look-specific makeup, etc. After each workshop, there will be a one-hour period (8:30 pm – 9:30 pm) for participants to prepare for the showcase, work on their personas, rehearse, and hang out. Instructors are welcome to hang back and hang out for that time, but not required.
Schedule
Drag Makeup 101
Date: July 2, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Participants are instructed in drag mug basics with Hermena and Sir Papi/Sammy.
Drag Costuming 101
Date: July 9, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Participants are instructed in the art of drag costuming and elevating a look for the stage with Emmonia and Hot Wheelz.
Wigs and Hair 101
Date: July 16, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Participants learn drag wig and styling basics with Indecisive (Wigs by Indi) and Sucressha Minorah (Bang Bang).
Performance and the Stage 101
Date: July 23, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Participants are instructed in movement and stage presence with Pepper and Charli Darwin.
Drop-In Work Period
Date: July 30, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
This is a drop-in period where participants can put the final touches on their performances before the showcase. Elixir will also be assisting folks with finalizing bios and drag names.
Showcase
Date: July 31, 2026
Time: 7:30-9:30 pm
Light the lights, the show is on tonight! Our participants will take the stage and show what they’ve learned. This evening will be hosted by Elixir and instructors are welcome to perform if they’d like, but it is not required.
Meet Your Host: Elixir
Elixir (they/them) is the cure to what ails ya. A fat, disabled drag thing, artsy witch, and gender clown, they serve camp, theatrical nonsense, and bewitching glamour.
An award-winning host, producer of local darlings Fat Magic and Cabinet of Curiosities, Ace of Hearts 2025, and a two-time lip-sync assassin, Elixir takes up space, bends expectations, and makes the stage their altar.
From dive bars to main stages, Elixir is an unstoppable force here to hex your expectations and leave audiences enchanted.
Ready to take a sip?
Meet Your Instructors
Hermena
Hermena has been dancing on chairs and painting for the back row since her Calgary drag debut back in 2018! Her love for makeup led her to a 10-year career in the beauty industry, where she worked as a Senior Artist for Sephora. With the makeup school credentials to back her up, this queen can’t wait to teach you how to achieve a head-turning mug!
Sir Papi/Sammy
Sir Papi ain’t just a snack, he’s the whole damn buffet, baby. Dripping Latin heat and smoke. He’s got that smouldering stare, that cheeky smirk and the kind of grind that’ll make you clutch your pearls and your thighs. When he takes the stage, he’ll steal your girl and leave a mark on your ego. because oh baby, you’re gonna feel it.
Emmonia
Blending horror, glam, and comedy, Emmonia is drag’s campy creature feature! Storming onto the drag scene in 2020, she has since carved out her place as Alberta’s premier kooky, conceptual icon. Known for her otherworldly looks, meticulous mixes, and punk-rock attitude, she brings a silly blend of theatricality and pop culture to every stage she steps on.
Hot Wheelz
HOT WHEELZ (they/he)~ the flaming hot wheelz of the Edmonton drag scene. Hot Wheelz brings conceptual artistry to life with rhinestoned wheelz and wicked headpieces. He brings his Filipino heritage to the stage and is very proud to be the disabled representation we all need. This shapeshifting creature brings the heat to the stage every time they hit the stage.
Indecisive (Wigs by Indi)
My name is indecisive, but you can now call me lavender haze! My love for drag and the art of transformation turned into seven amazing years of performing and learning so many new skills. Throughout high school, I had a passion for cosmetology and all things hair. And when I started doing drag, I began pursuing wig styling and developing skills to style and sell wigs! I really pushed myself and my skills through the years by making (literally by hand sometimes!) and styling for drag queens, drag kings, burlesque performers and everything in between. My passions lately have taken me into burlesque and focusing on vintage hairstyles and all things burlesque.
Sucressha Minorah (Bang Bang)
Sucreesha is the go to wig artist in Edmonton . Their work has been featured on stages around the world from New York fashion week to RuPaul’s drag race. With 23 years of experience in the hair industry they are ready to share all their wig and hair secrets with YOU.
Pepper
Charli Darwin
Charli is a drag king with years of movement and dance experience, with a background in ballet, jazz, and musical theatre. Their drag is campy, high energy and steeped in their love for rock and roll (and science)! Come learn how to engage your audience and get the crowd moving along with you!
Tour with Pride: A Queer Fringe Festival
When: August 13 – 23
Tickets: Available for purchase August 5th
Price: $30
The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has always been, and always will be, Queer.
To honour the historic impact of Queer Artists and their stories, we’ve partnered with the Edmonton Queer History Project to bring you some special tours during the Fringe!
Tours include:
- A history tour of Old Strathcona (supported by EQHP)
- A ticket to a Queer show at the Festival.
- An opportunity to meet at the Beer Tents post-show to meet the Artist.
Meet Your Guides
Elizabeth Cytko
Elizabeth Cytko is a local historian actively engaged in telling the stories of Edmonton. In particular, she enjoys exploring niche local histories and sharing them with the wider community. As an informal urbanist, she enjoys participating in a variety of city building practices, including tactical urbanism, advocacy and targeted mischief.
Toryn Suddaby
As an academic researcher and a visual artist, Toryn is interested in the intersections between history, cultural memory, and identity, especially in her hometown of Edmonton. She recently illustrated “Happyland,” the Edmonton City As Museum Project’s first ever comic, and is the researcher and writer behind much of the Edmonton Queer History Project’s Old Strathcona Map.
Queer People Selling Queer Stuff
When: September 12, 10AM – 4PM
Tickets: This event is free to enter. No ticket required. Drop by anytime!
Price: Free to enter
Queer hands make good things.
Joined by our friends from Taco’s Macabre Creations, we’re bringing you the hottest market in town! Queer folks making Queer stuff; art, clothes, weird little knick-knacks, and your next favourite print.
Come hang out, meet the people behind the work, and take home something with a story.
Applications for Vendors open soon!
Taco
Taco’s Macabre Creations is a local Edmonton LGBTQ+ owned and operated business who had a vision of working for and answering to no one but herself…and she made that dream come true, in February 2022! At TMC, if you can Dream it, Taco can Scheme it! Catering to the Rainbow, Alternative, Witchy and Horror Communities. Starting the Gay AF Market in June of 2022 to create a safe space for local queer makers in YEG and celebrating year 4 this June 21, 2026!
And Much More to Come!
Like clowns, cabarets, plays and celebration? Check back soon for more events with Q2Q: A Queer Barns Series!
Supporters
Q2Q: A Queer Barns Series is generously supported by the City of Edmonton
