Comedy preview: Laura Solon in Lancaster (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Comedy preview: Laura Solon in Lancaster

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

LAURA Solon may have been billed as one of the fastest-rising comedy writers and performers working in the industry today.

But the 30-year-old newly-wed reckons she’s just your average young woman.

“I’m quite normal, I don’t lead an extraordinary or weird life,” she said.

“Most of my friends don’t work in comedy so I get to catch up with people who do normal jobs on weekends.

“My ideal day off is a walk that ends with a pub.

"Now I’ve reached 30 I no longer have to go out until all hours, I’ve become quite content with leading a peaceful life.”

Laura’s award-winning comedy show, however, is somewhat at odds with this down-to-earth image.

On stage she transforms into a myriad different comedy characters, all dreamt up by her, in her critically-acclaimed show Rabbit Faced Story Soup.

“There’s a loose story about how a famous author goes missing and all these people finish the end of her book,” explained Laura, who lives with her husband in Battersea, south London.

“It’s just a chance to play all these silly characters really.

“There’s also a stuffed rabbit called Ian, so if people like comedy with taxidermy then it’s the perfect show!

“It’s a fun show and a bit different. People can watch stand-up comedy on DVDs or TV, but I wanted to do something that you had to see live.”

The show received rave reviews at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it was a sell-out.

The Independent on Sunday called her “frighteningly talented”, the Sunday Times said it was “A masterclass”.

And the Daily Telegraph said: “Solon’s unfair advantage is that she can not only do it all – the writing, the performing, the characters, the accents – but do it all so well.”

Now Laura is taking it on tour.

“I’m getting to visit places I’ve never visited before.

"It’ll be nice to go to new places and meet new people.”

Laura came to comedy after trying her hand at acting during her university years and discovering that she could make people laugh.

After graduating she moved to London, took a series of temping jobs, and gave stand-up comedy a go.

In 2005 her Edinburgh show won the much-coveted Perrier Award, which put her on the comedy map, and led to opportunities working with Harry Enfield and doing a radio series.

“It was amazing to win the award,” she said. “It was such a shock to win and it made a big difference to my career.

“All of a sudden I was able to work with great people who I admire.”

Laura is dismissive about the often unfair treatment of women in comedy, saying: “If someone doesn’t find women funny they’re not going to buy a ticket to see my show, so it doesn’t really affect me.”

And she thinks Brits in general don’t appreciate the wealth of comedy on our doorsteps.

“Growing up I loved watching Blackadder and French & Saunders.

"Now I love Steve Coogan, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse are fantastic, and I enjoy Black Books too.

“People are down on British comedy, but there’s so much great comedy out there.”

* Laura Solon is at the Grand in Lancaster on Thursday, March 18. Tickets £10 / £8. 8pm.