TALKING TO LUISA OMIELAN
Big Funny Fest arrives in Richmond this June (15th & 16th), promising a weekend of sensational stand-up comedy from the likes of Luisa Omielan, Mark Watson, Jason Byrne, Nish Kumar, Hal Cruttenden, Andrew Maxwell and more.
With shows such as What Would Beyonce Do, Am I Right Ladies? and Politics For Bitches, Luisa Omeilan is the bringer of brilliantly funny beacons bursting with guidance and inspiration to her fellow human beings. We caught up with Saturday nights headline act to talk funny-stuff, festivals and her beloved hound Bernie.
YOU’RE WORKING ON SOME NEW MATERIAL, GOD IS A WOMAN AND JESUS WAS A FEMINIST – APART FROM THE OBVIOUS ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW?
Um, yeah, I wouldn’t say I’m working on new material. My agent Charlotte just booked me for a show and I just got up and started having a chat. I think it’s unfair for me to say that I’m working on new material. I’m just reading lots of books and then talking about it on stage to different people.
Can you call it working? I guess it’s working? Yeah, I’m working on new material – let’s just call it that.
The show (‘God is Woman and Jesus was Feminist’) is just discussing those ideas and principles. It’s not even a show, I don’t want to call it a show – it’s just something that I’m interested in at the moment is religion. Where its come from, why it started, who started it and what has it taught us.
YOU PERFORM AT RICHMOND’S FUNNY FEST THIS JUNE – AND WILL BE IN THE COMPANY OF SOME OF OTHER PRETTY WITY FOLKS – WILL YOU CATCHING ANY OF THE OTHER ACTS? ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING ANYBODY’S SET IN PARTICULAR?
With comedians, we kind of see each other every day. I’m more excited about what else is going on, the general vibe of the festival; what the crowds are up to, what else is on, clowning or circus, or dancing or cabaret – I like seeing something that’s not necessarily in my field. But, of course, it’s always nice to hang out with other comics. I think comics prefer hanging out and catching up rather than watching each others set.
ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FESTIVAL VIBE? HOW DOES THAT DIFFER TO THE CLUB OR STAGE SETTING OF A THEATRE?
Totally. Totally different. It’s a different vibe, it’s a different energy, there’s lots of outside noise, it can normally be on during the day, so there’s daylight, which is weird. The ideal comedy is like a cesspit. You want it dark, low ceiling, hot room, in a basement somewhere – that’s where the best comedy is. So to be suddenly in a really large outdoor space with loads of outside noise makes it very different. It’s a very different beast and there are pros and cons to that.
I enjoy going to festivals, but I never know how it’s going to go down in a festival tent because I’m always like I don’t know what this is going to be like? I’m looking forward to it, I’m hoping it’s fun, I’m hoping there’s a good vibe, I hope they’re not too serious and I hope they’re up for a good time.
YOU LOVE YOUR DOG BERNIE – DOES HE TRAVEL WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO? DOES HE FEATURE IN YOUR NEW SHOW? HOW IS HE ON STAGE?
Bernie is always on stage with me. She’s actually very much part of my show. She was on stage with me for Politics for Bitches and she is on stage with me for God is a Woman. Bernie is very much a massive part of my life so she comes with me everywhere, wherever I can bring her.
On stage, she’s the best, she’s so well behaved, lovely. But it’s just in real life she’s a nightmare. So yeah on stage she’s amazing mate, so good.
WILL YOU BE TAKING BERNIE FOR A WALK TO SEE THE SIGHTS OF RICHMOND PARK?
I’m with her now. She’s causing a lot of trouble. I might bring her with me – she can be part of the show, go for a walk, why not?
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE SUMMER?
I don’t know. I’m not doing Edinburgh this year. It’s weird – it’s the first time that I feel like I don’t want to go on holiday, I just want to stay in Birmingham. I’m, new to the area so I just want to get to know the area a bit more and get to know my new hometown. I’m going to make the most of staying in England. I’ve always been away or disappeared or gone to Edinburgh, so it’ll be quite weird just to have an August in England. I haven’t done it in like 11 years so it might be nice.
BIG FUNNY FEST / JUNE 15 – 16 / OLD DEER PARK, RICHMOND
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS, VISIT WWW.BIGFUNNYFEST.COM