EDINBURGH 2023: Louise Atkinson Q&A

BWW catches up with Louise Atkinson to chat about bringing Mates to the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tell us a bit about 'Mates'.

It's a show about friendships. What a bunch of utterly stupid, wonderful, and annoying people our mates can be. I read this article a while back that was looking at friendships and what they mean and how they're viewed in society. It was very academic, so I want to move it into a more amiable, conversational setting with jokes. If that doesn't work, we can always sack the show off and just play a really big game of wink murder. I'm flexible. 

Why do you think society is so dismissive of friendship breakups?

I wouldn't say society is dismissive, but rather we're not equipped to talk about it. People know about them, and we've all had them, but saying, "I'm going through a friendship break up" as an adult sounds like you're getting ready for a biscuit and a glass of squash, and hopefully everything will work out so you can sit together in maths in the afternoon. It's actually been really interesting previewing this show and getting to talk to so many people about the friendship breakups they've had. One thing I found most fascinating was how many men approached me to talk about it and so many of them saying a very similar thing; 'it was really upsetting actually, he was like a brother to me'. Assuming they mean figuratively, otherwise, if they mean literally, I seem to have continually performed to one large, male-dominated family. 

With this being your debut, do you think you know what to expect from the festival?

It's my first time doing an hour, but I've done a full run before, so I know what safeguards to put in place to make it fun but still take care of myself. For example, I know vegetables are important and eating 2 crepes (one savoury, one sweet) at once isn't ideal. The weather can change at any moment, so I have to dress like I'm going to both Club Tropicana and an Arctic expedition. I'd say I've got the basics covered. 

Who would you like to come and see Mates?

My dream is to have everyone bring their best mate. Your mate doesn't have to be platonic, it could be the person you're dating or a family member, but someone you like to be silly and daft with and then we can all sit and be silly and daft together.

I would also like it if one day an ice cream salesperson comes to my show and says, 'I'm so sorry, but before we start, I need to get rid of all my stock' and then me and the entire audience get litres of free ice cream, but I think the former is more likely, sadly. 

What would you like audiences to take away from it?

My goal with any show, or set in a comedy club, is always to leave people happier than when they came in. You have no idea what's going on in people's lives; this may be the first comedy show they've seen in months, maybe it's the only one they can afford, maybe they lost a bet and  it was watching my show or drinking a pint or Marmite as a forfeit, but you have to understand that if you're a comedian, it's your job to make sure they laugh as much as possible. My biggest goal, any time I perform, is to make sure I get at least one person to come up to me and say, 'Cheers for that, I enjoyed it, I was having a rough day and this cheered me up'.

I'd also like it if McVities came to watch it and said, 'Tell you what, that's our new spokesperson right there,' and I could be paid in biscuits. But, you know, some goals are bigger than others. 

Louise Atkinson: Mates

3:20pm, 2nd - 27th August at Gilded Balloon Teviot

Tickets: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/louise-atkinson-mates 

Photo credit: Andy Hollingworth

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