Louise Marwood is Rita Lynn: Life Coach in brand new stage play

Louise Marwood is bringing her no-nonsense, no-frills, £250-an-hour life coach alter ego Rita Lynn to the Edinburgh Fringe to tell the hilarious but touching, and sometimes dark, story of her own personal struggle with addiction and road to sobriety. We caught up with Louise to deep dive into her on-stage persona and find out what she’ll be doing in her spare time at her first ever sober Fringe.

Where did the inspiration for the characters Imogen and Rita Lynn come from?

Imogen’s story was very much inspired by my own descent into drug addiction. Her struggles were my struggle. Rita Lynn is completely fictional, but she represents the addict voice in my head. You absolutely become two people when you battle with addiction and I completely lost myself. I also managed to put myself back together - and with that comes a determination to tell your story. You feel like a very different artist when you have tested the edges of your being and come back to tell the tale. 

I would never have been able to write something like this without finding my edges. I am equally grateful and terrified of my addiction and subsequent recovery. I think I will have to remain vigilant for the rest of my life but I have found a peace in that. I look at life very differently now and I actually wouldn’t take any of it 

back, which is not something I thought I would ever say. 

Why did you decide to do a semi-autobiographical theatre show? And why now, at this point in your life?

It felt like the right thing to do after everything I went through. I have a profile and I wanted to use this platform to help people who are struggling with similar issues. I then wrote the script, absolutely loved it and was like, I have to do this. 

Have you always wanted to be a performer ever since you were little?

Since I was about nine years old. I was a very insecure child, but something happened to me when I was performing and I had this confidence. A bit like with Rita Lynn - maybe my alter ego has always been there. I always loved theatre and in 2009, became part of the comedy scene with sketch show Comedy Bitch. It was only after graduating from The Oxford School of Drama, I ended up in Emmerdale. Being part of a soap wasn’t ever part of my plan and I really struggled with how it made me feel creatively. That struggle definitely played a part in my addiction. Getting to the core of everything, realising I had experienced an identity crisis – this is all part of my recovery and coming to terms with what addiction is really about.

Who would you like to come and see Rita Lynn: Life Coach? 

Anyone and everyone. I think there is something in there that most adults would relate to.  Rita Lynn is a universal story told through the lens of my personal story; it holds a microscope up to the human condition. The show is a love letter to a bygone era and a kiss goodbye to the addiction that consumed me and nearly took my life. At its heart it has a wish, a hope and a prayer – if I can recover, anyone can. Plus, it is funny as hell. 

What are you most looking forward to about performing this show at the Fringe?

I love the Fringe. I love the buzz. And being part of something like that. Edinburgh is an incredible city anyway, but it transforms into this magical space for the month of August. It is the only time when performers from all walks of life are on an even keel – ego, prestige and celebrity go out the window – we are all in it together. We all have dreams, sheer determination and flyers in our hands! 

Saying that, it will be my first sober Fringe so I am interested to see how different it will be. I’ve just found out we are staying not far from a beach. Abeach! I have been to Edinburgh four times, and this is the first I have heard of a beach. Says a lot really. I might even make it up to Arthurs seat this time. 

Rita Lynn: Life Coach will be performed at 7pm in Pleasance Dome (Ace Dome) from 31st July – 25th August (Not 13th)

Booking link: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/rita-lynn-life-coach