"Josie Lawrence is the Queen of improvisation and makes me belly laugh every time."
Ria Lina is coming to WMC this Spring in her highly anticipated debut tour!
As seen on the likes of Mock The Week, Have I got News for You and Live at The Apollo, Ria’s ‘Riawakening’ tour tackles the issues of coming out of a global pandemic, the new normal, divorce, dating in a new digital world, motherhood and what it really means to be a woman today.
How did you get into comedy?
I fell into it! I wanted to act and found that I could get more stage time doing comedy. Fast forward 15 years later and here I am: still trying to make it as an actor.
Favourite comedian? Who really makes you laugh?
I have a love/hate relationship with this question because the beauty of comedy is that everyone is different, so narrowing down to a favourite is almost impossible, but I do love an Australian woman called Kitty Flanagan, I can’t deny the genius that is James Acaster, and if you can get to see her in the Comedy Store Players, Josie Lawrence is the Queen of improvisation and makes me belly laugh every time.
What’s your upcoming tour show about?
Riawakening is about rediscovering yourself after years of giving yourself to what society expected of you. It’s also about dating after divorce.
What’s your creative process for writing new material?
Am I creative? Yes. Do I write new material? Yes. Do I have a process…. um. I should. I really need to work on one. But honestly, if I were that organised, I’d be earning way more than I do, working in a bank.
Offstage, how would you describe yourself?
I’m autistic, so I am quite different to onstage. To be Ria Lina requires a lot of masking, which takes a lot of energy, so when I have a day off I am dressed in comfortable clothes (I’m talking elasticated waistbands and oversized sweatshirts), trainers ( if I even go out) and no makeup. I look like such a bum, I genuinely don’t get recognised on my days off – and I wouldn’t have it any other way! ?
Ria Lina performs at WMC on Sunday 7th April, 7.30pm