It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

Louise Leigh: Distracted

Location:   Just the Tonic at Cabaret Voltaire – Just the Common Room (Venue 338)

Dates: Aug 1st-4th, 6th-11th, 13th-18th, 20th-25th

Time: 15:30

Price: £10 Concessions £8

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/louise-leigh-distracted

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

I’m a bag of rapidly-aging flesh containing a much younger, way more immature person. I’m a natural pink, mother of two humans, in the thrall of a spaniel and two cats, tolerated by the world’s most patient husband, gigging comedian from Scotland but living in Bristol. Basically, you know your mum’s cousin that you see at family parties and you always enjoy her company but she’s ultimately unreliable? That’s the vibe.

Tell us all about your show!

Oh it’s fun! It’s about the rules and how they are reassuring and terrifying in equal measure; it’s about trying to be a cool mum in spite of the brand new carpets; it’s about caring what other people think, and trying not to. It’s about the pontoon being out of bounds. 

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

It’s to do with the fact that my name sounds a bit like “Easily”. So the show’s full name is “Louise Leigh Distracted” and in 2022 I did “Louise Leigh Amused” and in 2019 I had “Louise Leigh Identifiable”. Other titles I considered included “Louise Leigh the Best Scottish Bristolian Midlife Lady Comedian You’ll See Today” and so on. 

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

Ooh – I really need to plan this ahead a bit better. I love the Fringe because you get to see some amazing stuff, but because my day is so full of flyering and doing the show and getting to bed in time, I don’t always get to see everything I want before it sells out. I’m chronically disorganized. 

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe. 

It’s my 5th or 6th time as an act; second full run of an hour and I guess my advice is to work out what you want to get out of it as an experience, and whether that’s achievable. So, in 2022, my goal was literally to do my show every day and survive the experience. I actually smashed that goal, getting a couple of decent reviews and meeting some amazing people and having some lovely audiences. But at the end of the day, it should be work, yes, but in some way joyful.

So enjoy meeting the other people you’re flyering nearby, help out your fellow performers, and take joy in the fact that you’re getting to appear at this incredible arts event unlike anything else in the world. And for god’s sake ca’ canny on the booze. 

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

So last year my show was at noon and I was staying WAY out in the south of the city, with views of the Pentlands. Beautiful, but it meant if I wanted to be on the Royal Mile flyering by 10am, I had to be on the bus at, like, 9. So up at 8 and onto the bus like a normal working week.

Flyer for a couple of hours, do the show and then absolutely flop. Stare into space for probably a couple of hours before trying to see anything else. Then flyering again at around 5-6 when people are sitting around planning their next day. Then maybe dinner with a friend or home to my house to make something simple. If I was out, I had to get an Uber home as soon as I heard the fireworks from the tattoo otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get home for hours. 

What is the best way to enjoy yourself at the fringe?

LSD. No, not the drug:  Lower Standards, Darling. I know it’s hard when you’re spending so much money to be there, but letting go of SOME of the stuff you think you should be doing is absolutely key. You’re not going to be able to make every one of your dreams come true. So, what’s ACHIEVABLE? Try and have an Average Fringe. 

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe? 

I mean you absolutely can’t beat the Mosque Kitchen – cheap and nutritious and right there. Also, my house. I basically buy eggs, baby spinach, wraps, and pre-cooked French-style lentils and tiny tomatoes, from which I can knock up a meal that’s either brunch, trunch or a late night snack. Mmm.. I can taste it now. 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The people. Feeling like you’re part of something huge; it’s a tribal gathering in a way. There are so many brilliant creative souls in one place at a time. Yes, some of them are absolute wankers, but imagine if your tribe was recruitment consultants* or something? How many tossers there would be. It doesn’t bear thinking about. 

*If you’re a recruitment consultant, obviously, I’m not talking about YOU, you’re the cool one! 

Top tips for travelling around the Fringe and getting to shows on time?

Edinburgh is a city in 3 dimensions. If you’re going to the Cowgate, it’s kind of underground and you can’t reach it from everywhere. If your Maps app is showing you a route that looks ridiculous, believe it. Allow a lot more time than google maps says because it doesn’t understand how many people there are in the streets. It’s bedlam. 

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

Comfortable shoes. Three pairs. I also take a “napping scarf” which I use to cover myself with when I’m absolutely shattered (this aging flesh bag!), raincoat.  

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Think of yourself as hand-picking your audience. Who do you want to spend an hour with? Who looks like they’d be a laugh? Also, if you’re flogging a comedy show, be funny. I had a line in ’22 where I said “sex, drugs and HRT” and that got the attention of the people I was hoping to attract.

If you’re doing character stuff, flyer in character. You’ve got 3 seconds to get their attention. If they like what they see on the street, they’ll come to the show. Ooh – another tip – have a thing that you do to just get the first few flyers out of your hands. Because it’s like your bladder on a night out. You have to break the seal. So, I might just give a few out to women in statement glasses, or anyone carrying a chocolate bar or something. That way, you warm up and then you can get to properly pitching when you have more confidence. 

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

@louiseleighcomedy on Instagram is probably the best place to find me

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

Your Mum on MDMA (four, sorry, but do we count little words?)