Feature: Luisa Omielan | Mumble Comedy

Mumble Comedy

Menu
Comedy
Theatre
Music
Festivals
Words

HomeFeature: Luisa Omielan

Feature: Luisa Omielan

August 24, 2023August 24, 2023 yodamo
2023

“It may have been men who built the world, but it’s women who are going to save it.”
Luisa Omielan is a powerhouse. She has just released her critically acclaimed show God is a Woman as an online special. Self funded and self produced, Luisa’s success is resting on the unwavering love of her die hard fan base.
“She is oxygen to the audiences” Lenny Henry
An Edinburgh Fringe legend she broke through at the festival in 2012, with her phenomenal show ‘What would Beyonce Do?!’ Which was later made into a BBC special. Credited with starting a new genre of comedy she went on to write a book, three more critically acclaimed one women shows, fronted her own BBC television show called Politics for Bitches, as well appearing on Live at The Apollo and being named a Bafta Breakthrough Brit.
She has worked hard for over a decade and this year she returns to Edinburgh with two work in progress shows. The two projects are polar opposite in nature. In ‘Bitter’ she purges her frustration at the comedy industry, an attempt to tear down the outdated structures holding her back. ‘God is a Woman The musical’ is the opportunity to see a master at work in the building of something new, and even be a part of the creative process.
Luisa is one of the most compelling comedians I have ever come across, embodying the true spirit of the fringe. ‘Bitter’ details how the industry has given her a hard time but she is showing courage meeting her audience where she is at, creating the deepest sense of intimacy I have ever seen between performer and fans.
The game is rigged and she is tired of playing. She talks about how women are treated differently than men in the industry. She cares deeply about her audience, but her attention to detail has led industry bosses to call her a diva, difficult and demanding. A powerful rant, detailing how her male counterparts have had it so much easier, results in applause.
“She is brilliant, I hate her” – Ruby Wax
Citing comedy as a force for healing, Luisa believes laughter is a universal language and describes how it helped her when she was growing up speaking polish. She’s 40 now and already experiencing ageism. She has given it her all, subscribing to the philosophy, “Don’t get bitter, get better.” A strong and independent woman, some people in the industry didn’t like her saying no. A woman of integrity, she refused to do a TV show because it wasn’t in alignment with her values.
Giving us one woman shows before they got so popular. Luisa tells me after the show that years ago London Hughes, now a Hollywood star, approached her and told that she was inspired by her work. It doesn’t surprise me that London opted to leave the UK. Luisa explains;
“TV decision makers continue to push the sexist trope that women aren’t funny, by not booking funny women, opting instead for reality TV stars, sports personalities and presenters. Whereas male comics can be seen on every channel travelling the world with their Dad.”
I tell her she belongs on Netflix. I’m not the first to suggest this, a fan previously gathered around 3000 signatures in a petition to get her there but as of yet, to no avail.
She’s noticed how the festival has changed over the years. It’s dead in comparison to the last time she visited before the pandemic.
“The UK is dying. Everyone is depressed. This is what happens when you put Nepo babies in charge of everything.”
When I pop in to see her musical project, Luisa has got the audience dancing along to a Taylor Swift song before the show has even started. The energy is electric.
Based on the lost gospels of Saint Mary Magdalene. She wants this show to be the female version of the Book of Mormon and describes it as a mating call to producers and investors.
“Britain does not like women who like themselves and yet audiences CRAVE them. Corporations are finally waking up to the buying power of half the population, think Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Barbie. It’s women’s money that is driving economic growth.”

READ An Interview with Konstantin Kisin | Mumble Comedy

Luisa could be the comedy counterpart to these global female megastars. The potential of this show is massive. Everyone is rooting for her as she passionately sings a self penned power ballad. It’s really something special, an empowering piece of work.
“Most importantly, it highlights the most gaslit and misrepresented woman in history: Mary Magdalene. Undermined, dismissed, mis-quoted and slut-shamed whilst the men get all the glory. Sound familiar?”
Over a decade since she broke through with ‘What Would Beyonce Do?!’, despite being tired and feeling that the comedy establishment is against her, Luisa shows no signs of giving up. Lit up by her fans, Luisa Omielan is still a firecracker. Industry doors may have been slammed but she’s taking her power back by bringing these projects to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and releasing her online special. All of her previous shows have had five star reviews and based on the reaction she is getting from her audiences, I am sure there will be many more to come. Go get em Luisa!
Samatha Pressdee

Catch her last remaining work in progress shows at the fringe;
Luisa Omielan: Bitter, Monkey Barrel 5.45pm £10.
Luisa Omielan: God is s Woman The Musical, Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 8.30pm Free,
To rent or buy Luisa’s Comedy special go here luisaomielan.com/shows/godisawoman/

Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading…

Post navigation
← Simon David: Dead Dad Show Pear: But Braver →

LATEST POSTS

Pam Ford Don’t You Dare! (Put Me in a Care Home)

Pear: But Braver

Feature: Luisa Omielan

Simon David: Dead Dad Show

Sikisa: Hear Me Out

Sex, Art and the Art of Survival

Gabby Killick – Conversations with my Agent

MC Hammersmith: Straight Outta Brompton

Darren Harriott: Roadman

Josh Weller: Age Against the Machine

Sasha Ellen: When Life Gives You Ellens Make Ellenade

Andre de Freitas: What If

Lee Kyle: England’s Best Comedian

Ange Lavoipierre: Your Mother Chucks Rocks And Shells

Chloe Radcliffe: Cheat

Lane Kwederis: Sex Job

Matt Price: As Seen on CCTV

Matt Hobs: Moontalker

Adam Rowe: What’s Wrong With Me?

GIGL

Crap Ballet

Ian Smith: Crushing

Patrick Susmilch: Texts From My Dead Friends

Big Zeus Energy

Ollie Horn: Not Much

Sachin Kumarendran: Deceit

Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt

Alexander Bennett: I Can’t Stand the Man, Myself

Liz Guterbock: Geriatric Millennial

Mat Ewins: Mr TikTok

Niamh Denyer: Get Blessed

Opinion Piece: Comedians have failed women! (& they are killing their craft)

Elliot Steel: Love & Hate Speech

Philipp Kostelecky: Daddy’s Home

The Rob Auton Show

Stephen Catling: Beehavioural Problems

A Multitude of Sins: A Dog Gone Mystery

An Interview with Katharyn Henson

TAKE MY WIVES: An Interview with Damo Brogden

Wisdom of the Men… & Women: An Interview with Clint Arthur

Walking on Spectrum: An Interview with Juliana Heng

An Interview with Stephen Catling

Alex Farrow: Philosophy Machines

Rhys Nicholson – Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!

The Tragicomic Brilliance of Jeff Ahern’s Improvisational Satire, Sylus 2024!

Christy Coysh: Bangarang!

Lew Fitz – Soft Lad

Depression, Swans and Pisser Problems: The Comic Triumph of Gary Little’s “Just About Done”

Zach Zucker: Spectacular Industry Showcase

Tony Law: A Now Begin in Again

Lauren Pattison: It Is What It Is

Early Morning Laughs at “An Irish Comedy Showcase”

Helen Bauer: Madam Good Tit

Aliya Kanani: Where You From, From

Matt Forde ‘Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right

Sid Singh: Illegally funny

Ignacio Lopez: El Cómico

Tom DeTrinis: I HATE NEW YORK

Simon David: White Gay

Daniel Downie: There’s Something about Mary

Ted Hill: All the Presidents Man

Mel Byron: Standing at the Back

Raul Kohli: Makes it Up as He Goes Along

Starship Improvise

Steve Bennett: Forced to Work

Doctor Kaboom! & the Wheel of Science

Andy Macleod: Anoint My Head – How I Failed to Make it as a Britpop Indie Rockstar

John Lloyd: Do You Know Who I Am?

Crybabies: Bagbeard

Nathan Cassidy: Observational

Paddy Young: Laugh You Rats

Emily Wilson: Fixed

Chelsea Birkby: No More Mr Nice Chelsea

Horseplay Bareback

Life Drawing With a Comedian

Eli Matthewson: Daddy Short legs

READ Nathan Cassidy : The Man In The Arena | Mumble Comedy

Myra Dubois: A Problem Shared.

Jacob Hatton: Relax! (Exclamation Mark)

Sam Nicoresti: Cancel Anti Wokeflake Snow Culture

Alasdair Beckett-King: Nevermore

Grant Buse: SentiMental

An Interview with Jacob Hatton

Garrett Millerick: Just Trying to Help

Patrick Spicer: Who’s This All of a Sudden?

BriTANicK

Jake Cornell and Marcia Belsky: Man and Woman

Katie Pritchard: Disco Ball

Hannah Fairweather: Just A Normal Girl Who Enjoys Revenge

Sasha Ellen: Creeps and Geeks

Amber Glancy: Wine Show

Pierre Novellie: Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?

Fills Monkey: We Will Drum You

Erynn Tett Finds her Audience

Lucy Frederick: My Big Fat Wedding

Kathryn Henson & Ollie Horn: Pure Filth

Will Mars: My Life in One-Liners

Expanding the Mumbleverse 2022

An Interview with Daniel Downie

Danny Deegan @ The Comedy Attic

An Interview With The Vickers Brothers

An Interview with Sam McGowan

Sam and Tim Present: Behind the Fringe

Tom Mayhew: From Rags to Slightly Newer Rags

According To Everyone Else (WIP)

Absolutely Themeless

The Five Percent Fringe

Kate Smurthwaite: The Last Mayor of Fihalhohi

Nathan Cassidy: Bumblebee

An Interview With Nathan Cassidy

The Travesty of Richard III

Dating Samantha Pressdee

Interview: PLUG IN Girls

An Interview with Cat Alvarado

An Interview with Rob Gee

Njambi McGrath: Accidental Coconut

Darius Davies: Persian of Interest

Twonkey’s Ten Year Twitch

Jez Watts: Absolute Zero

Meatball Séance

Bad Boys

Will Rowland: Cocoon

Our 2014 Poster

Steve N Allen: Better Than

An Interview with The Establishment

An Interview with Eli Matthewson

Alex Farrow: Philosophy A-Level

Nathan Cassidy: Observational

Matt Hobs BSc (Bristolian of Science)

An Interview with Hopwood DePree

MTT: Dinner With Comedians

Robyn Perkins: Mating Selection

An Interview with Steve N. Allen

Aaron Twitchen: Can’t Stop a Rainbow

Jack Tucker: Comedy Stand Up Hour

Adam Flood & Blake AJ: Joke Boys

Baba Brinkman’s Rap Guide to Culture

Mark and Haydn: Llaugh

Sunjai Arif: Which Princess Are You?

Will Penswick: Nørdic(k)

Jon Long: Planet-Killing Machine

Naomi Karavani: Dominant

Grandad’s Grandad-Themed Family Reunion

Richard Wright Is Just Happy to be Involved

Byron Bertram: Passport and Prozac

Any Suggestions Doctor? The Improvised Doctor Who Parody

Lolly Jones: I Believe in Merkels

Jeroen Bloemhoff: A List of 100 Things That Unreasonably Annoy Me

Jim Campbell: Beef

Robin Morgan: What a Man, What a Man, What a Man, What a Mighty Good Man (Say It Again Now)

Flora Anderson: Romantic

Follow Mumble Comedy on WordPress.com

August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
November 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2020
November 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
December 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
January 2018
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
October 2016
August 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
November 2015
October 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
August 2013
June 2013

Blog at WordPress.com.

Following

Mumble Comedy

Join 94 other followers

Sign me up

Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.

Mumble Comedy

Customize

Following

Report this content

View post in Reader

Manage subscriptions

Collapse this bar

Loading Comments…

Write a Comment…

Email (Required)

Name (Required)

Website

%d bloggers like this:

Related Posts