Highland comedians to do 10-night tour at 10 venues for mental health charity Mikeysline
Ten nights. Ten venues. Ten different areas.
That is the adventure awaiting seven comedians preparing to go on a stand-up tour of the Highlands and Moray to mark the 10th anniversary of mental health and suicide prevention charity, Mikeysline.
Featuring well-known names on the comedy circuit at a local and national level - and beyond - it is probably the biggest comedy event to come from the Highlands for the Highlands.
It will be hosted by TV and Tiktok star Halde Pottinger and will also feature Arnold Cavendish, Marc Ross and Robert MacGregor - both Glasgow Comedy Festival sell-out show performers - Charlye McMillan, comedy tour veteran Mike Hendry and Kieran Lochore, described as the “Godfather of Highland Comedy”.
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Mikeysline was founded in December 2015 following the deaths of two friends, Michael "Mikey" Williamson and Martin Shaw, within days of each other.
Initially, it provided a text-for-help hotline service for people experiencing thoughts of depression, anxiety, worry or stress but has since expanded its work including mental health awareness campaigns to break down the stigma associated with seeking support for emotional distress.
The comedy tour, running throughout July, is supported by High Life Highland and will include venues from Wick to Ardnamurchan as well as Elgin. culminating in a gala event at Eden Court in Inverness on August 1.
All the profits will go directly to Mikeysline.
As well as promising to provide an unforgettable comedy experience, filled with craic and stories, jokes and music, there will also be people on hand to talk to.
It will not be the first time, Halde Pottinger, who is also an Inverness-based humanist celebrant, has taken to the stage for a good cause.
He was a contestant in Ness Factor 2024, which raises money for Highland Hospice, following his brother’s passing which he said was a motivator for him to sign up for the competition.
As a champion for Mikeysline’s Bee The Change campaign to challenge raise awareness of the issues around mental health, he is now keen to highlight the work of that charity.
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“There is a correlation between stand-up comedy and mental health,” he said.
“A lot of people find stand-up comedy is an outlet for their own demons going on in their own life.
“They can go along and watch or even do their own stand-up.”
Halde stressed the tour would carry a strong message of positivity.
“People may not come along to even speak to anyone but they will come along and will register what this amazing charity does,” he said.
“They may even go home and pick up the telephone.
“It is very much about encouraging people to speak to each other, or bring them together.
“In the aftermath of the covid pandemic, the world has not gone back to the way it was.
“There are so many businesses struggling. There are so many platforms struggling. Then, there is the cost of living.”
He said he and the other performers were looking forward to the tour.
“All the comedians are delighted to be involved in this,” he said.
“Everything we do will go straight to Mikeysline.
Halde was a police officer in the Highlands at the time Mikeysline was founded.
“Obviously, I saw some pretty horrendous things,” he said.
“Things you probably would not expect to see in the Highlands.
“Coming out of the police and going into being a celebrant at funerals, sadly a lot of what I do and the way people have passed is related to suicide.”
He said that 15 or 20 years ago, it was a shock to hear someone had killed themselves but he felt that nowadays it seemed more commonplace.
Reflecting on 10 years of Mikeysline, he acknowledged its “wonderful” work but also felt it was sad there was such huge demand.
“In a perfect world, Mikeysline would not exist in some respects,” he said.
“It is offering an incredible service but at the same time it’s really sad that so many people are having to take up the service.”
He also said that from small beginnings, Mikeysline was now a well-known name in the Highlands.
“For the charity, it is wonderful their name is getting out there,” he said.
“A lot of people know about Mikeysline.
“But at the same time lots of people don’t realise there is help there. They don’t know about Mikeysline.”
He stressed that Mikeysline was there to help people of all ages.
Go to https://www.facebook.com/mikeysline10thanniversarycomedytour/ for further information about the dates, venues and how to buy tickets.
Mikeysline runs a text service each evening on 07786207755 for people seeking support.
Further information on its other support services, including a drop-in mental health and crisis centre at 4 Strothers Lane in Inverness, can also be found on its website.
