This month I will be talking to different acts that are taking part in the Brighton Fringe Festival. Today I speak to Louise Atkinson about the show Mates.

Location: Laughing Horse @ Caroline Of Brunswick
Date: 7th, 13th, 14th May
Time: 19:00
Ticket Price: Free
Link: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/louise-atkinson-mates-work-in-progress/

Hello! Tell us about your act ? 

Hi. It’s called ‘Mates’, and it’s my debut show that I’ll be taking to the Edinburgh Fringe this year and, funnily enough, it centres around me talking about my mates and friendships in general.

Our lives are filled with different types of friendships, each with different benefits and characters that are usually really fun to talk about. The kind of friends that are thoughtful, overly energetic in the morning, or vomit over a bouncer after half a WKD are worth talking about, I think.

I also talk about how we should be more romantic with our mates and what happens when you break up with a friend. Oh, and I have a joke about a stale kebab, so, you know, it’s pretty high brow.

How did you come up with the name of your show that you are taking to the Brighton fringe?

I’d love to have a really profound answer, but the truth is, it’s a combination of saying what the show is about, character limits for fringe applications and being drunk at the pub whilst doing last minute admin. A similar process to most of my uni essays. 

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

I like to think I’m pretty relaxed with the audience. If I were a book, I’d have a folded over page and a coffee stain on the back, but the content would be fine.

What can people expect from your Brighton Fringe performance?

For 2 of the performances they can expect a funny yet interesting look at how I think friendships play a part in our lives. For 1 of the performances they can expect me in a flamboyant number, talking about how excited I am for Eurovision being on after my show. 

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

There’s such a great line up, so this is a tough one.  Josh Baulf is hilarious and also I always love watching Kuan-wen. You’re in for a treat with both of their shows. 

How are the rehearsals going?

So far I’ve cleaned the flat 4 times and done all my life admin, including calling my local council about the bins. In terms of procrastination helping my life admin, I’m absolutely storming it, but in terms of rehearsing the show, I should probably put this Flash mop down and crack on.

Have you done the fringe before? What have been some of your favourite shows to date and why?

Yeah, I’ve done the fringe once as part of a split bill and once on my own. I like going to compilation shows because they’re a great way to catch all the different types of comedy that’s going on in a short amount of time – it’s like comedy speed dating or comedy tapas, if you will.

What advice would you give to others who want to perform at Brighton Fringe next year?

Under absolutely no circumstances should you attempt to eat your chips on the sea front. You’ll be taken on by a bird impersonating a Spitfire plane, and, I’ll tell you now, they’ll win. Can confirm you’ll be much safer eating donuts on the pier, but, stay vigilant

What is the best thing about performing at the Brighton fringe?

It’s always such a great crowd in Brighton. It always seems like you’re performing to a group of people that are genuinely happy about having this arts festival so close to home, and they really enjoy it, which, as a performer, is all you want really, to know people are enjoying themselves. That and I always enjoy a Kitkat, if an audience member has one spare. 

What are your three favourite things about Brighton?

1. The constant access to great donuts. 
2. The people are a laugh
3. I once went to club revenge with my friend and a drag queen showed us the correct way to slut drop. I will be forever in their debt

Leafleting and promotion through the streets of Brighton is a huge part of the festival – what are your tips for flyering?

Self -esteem, being conversational, having a soul – remove all of these and you should be able to handle flyering

Tell us about your average day on a festival show run?

I’ll get up, debate between museli and poaching an egg before buying an almond croissant. After that, I’ll spend hours thinking about whether I should rehearse something for the show or if we should rebrand baguettes as bread swords. I’ll drive to Brighton and listen to a podcast to calm me as I reach a high of 25mph on the M25. Buy donuts, of course. I have some other comp shows booked, so I’ll do those, do my show, and then drive home.

Performing by the sea as well, that surely makes the fringe all that much more fun?

It can be, though last time I played there, it was a pop-up stage on the beach and the tide was coming in. Couple more hours and I would have been performing to Tom Hanks and his buddy Wilson from Castaway.

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Those who came to my show hoping I’d cheer them up and make their day better. If that doesn’t work, Chris Hemsworth, but that’s mostly for aesthetics. 

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

Insta and Twitter = @_latkinson_

FB and Tiktok = @louiseatkinsoncomedy

And Finally finish this sentence – ‘you should see our show at Brighton Fringe because….

I’ve written one of the most banging jokes about a hedgehog and it deserves to be heard. I’ll also have had a wash that day and wear something that doesn’t have gravy down the front and that’s always a nice change