We caught up with Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year finalist Louise Leigh. She’s had a lot of thoughts over the last year or so, but the main one is: wouldn’t it be nice if we all just got in a room and had a laugh?
Funny Women: Tell us about your show!
Louise Leigh: I was supposed to write my Magnum Opus: a searing commentary on men, menopause and menthol rub. But it’s turned out as a sort of love letter to my mates. Now that we’re middle aged. It’s about how we’ve grown up – and haven’t – since we were 25. It’s about carrying bags of other people’s crap, about midlife body image and there’s a surprising amount about gazebos.
FW: Why gazebos?
LL: Gazebos have done so much for us, haven’t they? They make parties possible, they shelter us when the weather gets a bit much, in either direction (except wind) and they’re a real symbol of fun. You see a gazebo go up in a neighbour’s garden, you know you’re going to be telling them to shut up at three in the morning. But they’ve also done a sterling shift in this pandemic. They’ve really gone the extra mile. But if they’re not properly tethered: chaos.
FW: How does it feel to be returning to a ‘back to normal’ Edinburgh Fringe?
LL: Terrifying and exciting in equal measure. It’s my first full run. I love my show – it’s gone down really well in preview and I think it really deserves an audience. I just hope they’re out there. Basically, if you’re a woman walking round Edinburgh this month I am going to pounce on you and ask you to hang out for an hour.
FW: Have you got any tips for comedians going up to the festival for the first time?
LL: Oh good lord, no! I know nothing! Except, well, when my son was struggling a bit at school, and started not going in, we realized it was because he was trying to be amazing every single day, and he felt like a failure if he didn’t smash it out of the park. So when he left the house, instead of saying “have a great day”, we started saying “have a bit of a crap day” or “have a mediocre day” or even just “have… a day”. So I wish everyone – including myself – “a Fringe”. Just by being here, we’ve already smashed it.
FW: Who are the funny women are you hoping to see in Edinburgh this year?
LL: Oh ALL of them, obviously, I really want to see Harriet Dyer’s show – she makes me laugh just with the way she breathes. I’m also looking forward to Charlotte Johnson’s show My Dad and Other Lies – just because she’s committed so beautifully to the bit on social media, plus she’s a darling. I’m chronically disorganised so there’s a chance I won’t get tickets to things like Amy Gledhill, Angela Barnes etc. So I’m setting my standards nice and low, in terms of the number of shows I try to see. Ooh – also, the Dumbelles. Because they’re wonderful mates.
Louise Leigh: Louise Leigh Amused is at Just the Tonic at the Caves, The Wee One, 12.10pm, every day until 29th August except the 15th and 23rd August. For tickets visit www.edfringe.com.
