Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
My name is Louisa Fitzhardinge and I’m an actor, musical comedian, and Oxford comma enthusiast. I also hold the dubious honour of being Australia’s current pun champion.
How would you describe your show?
Comma Sutra is a love letter to language. It's partly the story of me, an awkward, grammar-obsessed nerd, attempting to navigate a world in which signs spruiking "potato's" are rife, and partly a very silly exploration of the joys of learning English, German, French and sign language.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I’ve been touring Comma Sutra around Australia for the last four years and this seems like the logical next step. Also, I miss the George Square food stall with the raclette.
What differentiates the Fringe from other festivals?
Edinburgh Fringe is much colder than Australian festivals. Even the winter ones!
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I’ve always been inspired by witty, wordy comedians like Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson and David Mitchell, and more recently, Sandi Toksvig and Sue Perkins.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I have so many ‘current jobs’, it’s hard to imagine not having any of them! I regularly work as a voice over artist, an improviser, a kids’ entertainer, a simulated patient for medical students and a chocolate tour guide, but I have tons of occasional jobs as well. I think if I couldn’t do any of those, I’d be a copy editor. Just me, a style guide and the unbridled joy of nerding out about grammar.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
As a voice over artist, I’ve always dreamed of being the person that announces stops on a public transport system. As robot voice technology gets better and better, my chances get slimmer and slimmer, but I’m still holding out hope!
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
My mum used to jokingly call me ‘Jackson Pollock’ when I was naughty as a child. I thought it was a hilarious, made-up name. I remember being flabbergasted when I found out it was a real name of a rather famous artist, and also that most people don’t call pencils ‘pundooncelins’.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
There are a lot of wonderful artists out there who make socially responsible work – one of my favourite theatre companies, The Last Great Hunt, do this exceptionally well. If Comma Sutra has a message, it’s that love of language is a glorious thing and we shouldn’t be ashamed to be word nerds, but there’s also a whole section about the awkward things I’ve accidentally said in sign language (including attempting to pay for something with ‘shoes’), so I don’t see myself as a social commentator per se.
Equally, do you think there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
Language is constantly evolving, and different ways of using language are becoming more and more accepted by the general public. ‘Internet speak’ used to be derided by many linguaphiles, but people are starting to discover the joys of words like ‘yeet’ (which is a word you can use when you throw something). Why shouldn’t the English language have an opposite for ‘yoink’?
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Fewer. I’ll show myself out.
[Ed. Note: The shame! I'll be sure to change this for next year…]
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
David Mitchell. What an unabashedly nerdy and utterly delightful human.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
I went to the Fringe two years ago with an ensemble show (an improvised musical called Impromptunes) and I would highly recommend going with a group when you’re embarking on your Fringe journey! Now that I have the lay of the land, I’m ready to tackle the behemoth that is Fringe on my own, although I’m lucky enough to have a couple of close friends from the Melbourne comedy community touring alongside me.
When and where can people see your show?
Louisa Fitzhardinge: Comma Sutra is at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 31st July – 26th August (not 13th) in the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose’s ‘Nip’ at 9pm. For tickets and more information: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/louisa-fitzhardinge-comma-sutra
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
On Facebook (facebook.com/louisafitzy) and my website (louisafitzhardinge.com).
0 Comments