Louise Stevenson

Louise Stevenson is a Stand-up Comedian, Writer and Comedy Coach with over 20 years Comedy industry experience. As CEO of Brighton Comedy Course, Louise has a solid background in helping aspiring comedians realise their dreams and has acquired a reputation for delivering quality stand-up comedy courses with consistent 5-star reviews over the last decade.

Louise started a career in stand-up comedy in 1999. She worked alongside Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, Rich Hall and Steven K Amos among others as she entertained international audiences with her Glaswegian wit. Louise won numerous awards though was knocked out of Channel 4’s ‘So you think you’re funny’ competition by Russell Brand. Television appearances included RTE and Channel 4. She is also a regular performer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where she featured in a sell-out show Scotland’s Best and Guests.

Louise completed her first novel in a year and then went on to win a place on a MA Creative Writing course. She was awarded with a Post Graduate Diploma and then a masters Degree by Sir Trevor McDonald.

Funny Bones Publishing released Louise's first book How to be a Comedian and Smash your First Gig in 2020 and they intend releasing the follow up book, The New Comedians Handbook, later this year. With three more fictional titles planned in 2021, all of which have comedy central to their theme. Good things are predicted for Die Laughing, which features George Mailer, a comedian/serial killer who chooses his victims from the audience.

Here's an excerpt from How to Be a Comedian and Smash your First Gig.

People often ask me, “What made you get into comedy?”

What MADE me?

It’s like I’m under duress, with some sort of comedy pimp pushing me out onto the stage, night after night: “Make them laugh, bitch.”

The truth is much more straightforward. I got into comedy because I loved making people laugh (and, with the help of my comedy pimp, I knew I could). The truth of it was, I thought I’m funny, I can do this. I know it’s not something you can say out loud. It’s like announcing “I’m gorgeous!” in public - not very British at all.

I can’t remember a definitive moment when I decided to become a comedian. I always enjoyed watching comedians on the TV when I was a child. Billy Connolly was my first experience with stand-up comedy. He was a trailblazer and is now a comedy legend.

In 1969, my mum gave birth to the first boy into an almost all-girl family. I was born three years later. I know it’s not China, where boys are highly coveted, but there were definite similarities. I was in my brother’s shadow and didn’t enjoy it at all. There’s nothing more tragic than a show-off without an audience.

Humour was (and still is) a valued commodity in Glasgow and very much so in my home. I used to look for any way to make my family laugh. I experimented with some dodgy impressions of famous TV characters, all of which reveal my old age. Some of you won’t remember Frank Spencer and Rigsby from Rising Damp. I’m sure, though, even the youngest among you will be familiar with my specialty, Miss Piggy!

I wouldn’t say stand-up was a burning ambition for me when I was growing up. There were few women comedians. That may have had an impact, though I loved making people laugh (I still do!)

While backpacking around Australia at the age of twenty-seven, the appeal of making people laugh on a bigger platform grew stronger. I confided in a few close friends, and though they ribbed me mercilessly, they were incredibly supportive.

I met street performer buddies who suggested learning tricks (and I don’t mean the sexual kind) for street performance. They thought if I could master street performance, I could do anything.

So, naturally, I joined the circus.

Yep. It was a postcard that elicited much despair on its arrival in Glasgow: “Guess what she’s done now!”

Read more about Louise's journey and learn the secrets of Stand-up Comedy in How to be a Comedian and Smash your First Gig. Available Now. The Follow up book The New Comedian's Handbook will be available to preorder soon.