Queer Play Reading Club: The Funeral Director by Iman Qureshi
Tuesday 18th August 2026
The Railway, Clapham
The Queer Play Reading Club is a monthly event, produced by Queer Theatre, held in partnership with Nick Hern Books, celebrating LGBTQIA+ playwriting in a supportive, low-pressure, queer-run, social space.
Each session begins with us reading out loud our own new queer writing, helping writers see how differently their work is from page to the mouths of actors and supportive feedback can be given. We then table-read a published LGBTQIA+ full-length play from Nick Hern Books, with everyone in the room reading various roles, followed by relaxed discussion and Q&A with the playwright themselves, and often with members of the Nick Hern Books team, facilitated by Queer Theatre’s Artistic Director, Andrew Keates. And finally, we share a drink together in the queer-run pub, The Railway. And everyone gets to take home their copy of the play-text too!
This month’s play: The Funeral Director by Iman Qureshi
“I just thought it would be a secret I’d have to die with. And now – I think it’ll be what kills me.”
Life as the director of a Muslim funeral parlour isn't always easy, but Ayesha has things pretty sorted. She and Zeyd share everything: a marriage, a business, a future. Until Tom walks in to organise his boyfriend's funeral. A snap moral decision, informed by the values of Ayesha's community and faith, has profound consequences. Forced to confront a secret she has hidden even from herself, Ayesha must decide who she is – no matter the cost.
Iman Qureshi's play The Funeral Director is an incisive and heartfelt story of sexuality, gender and religion in twenty-first-century Britain. It won the 2018 Papatango New Writing Prize and premiered at Southwark Playhouse, London, in October 2018.
Special Guest Announcement
We are delighted to announce, Iman Qureshi will be joining us for this session to discuss the play and answer your questions.
Iman Qureshi is an award-winning writer for stage, screen and radio. Her stage plays include: The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs (Soho Theatre, London, 2022); The Funeral Director (winner of the 2018 Papatango New Writing Prize; premiered at Southwark Playhouse, 2018) and Speed (Kali Theatre at the Tristan Bates Theatre, 2013). Her short play His and Hers (Soho Theatre) was produced as part of Tamasha's New Muslim Voices. Her play for young people, Side Effects, was performed at Canary Wharf Roof Garden and Poplar Union.
She has been writer in residence at various schools, and her short play Birthday Begum, written in residence at Mulberry School for Girls, was performed at Rich Mix and Theatre Royal Stratford East. She was shortlisted for Soho Theatre's Tony Craze Award in 2017.
Itinerary
Tea, coffee and snacks from 6:30pm
Session starts at 7pm (sharing new writing with the group and receiving supportive feedback)
Then We read the play together.
Q&A with Iman Qureshi and Andrew Keates
Drinks and socialising until 11pm
Getting There
The Railway, Clapham
18 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UR
By Tube: A 1-minute walk from Clapham North (Northern line) and 5 minutes from Clapham Common.
By Overground: Clapham High Street Station is directly opposite the venue.
By Bus: Served by routes 50, 88, 155, 322, and 345.
By Train: Clapham Junction is a short bus ride away, with connections across London and the South East.
Accessibility
The event takes place in an upstairs space accessible only by stairs. If you have access needs or questions, please contact us in advance so we can support your visit as best we can.
Important Information
This is not a performance but an informal exploration of the play’s text. Scenes will be read aloud by members of the group who wish to participate. Roles may therefore be read in ways that differ from their original casting intentions, including across gender, race, age, sexuality, and lived experience. We actively welcome this openness while also encouraging those with lived experience reflecting the characters to volunteer where appropriate.
If you are a writer wishing to have your own work shared aloud in the opening section, please bring an excerpt of no more than five minutes to allow space for others. We may not have time to include everyone’s work on the night. If you need excerpts printed, please email us.
This event forms part of Queer Theatre’s commitment to ensuring LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers always have somewhere to go each week to connect, grow and express themselves – alongside our Acting Classes For LGBTQIA+ People, OutCast showcases, Queer Variety Night, theatre trips, social events, workshops, parties and more.
By attending, you consent to Queer Theatre taking and using photography and video from the event for archive, press, marketing, website and social media purposes.
Find out more at www.queertheatre.co.uk/whats-on
Contact
If you’re having any problems with your booking, please contact us.