As a full on 'show off' I have always nursed a secret and recurring fantasy that I could be a stand up comedian. So when Lynne Parker from Funny Women came into the Radio Gorgeous studio recently and invited me to take part in one of the Funny Women Stand Up to Stand Out workshops, I jumped at the opportunity to spend two hours showing off!
As the date of the workshop inched closer my cynical hat came into play and I started believing that it would be virtually Impossible to become funny in only two hours. I mean totally ridiculous.
The workshop took place in a dark tiny cavern like theatre just off Leicester Square. A mixed bunch of women of all ages and from all parts of the UK turned up – everyone was friendly but not particularly funny. Lynne firmly told us to put all our paraphernalia (phones, bags, pens and paper) away and we sat in a circle – this was getting like group therapy.
Verbal exercises ensured that we very quickly lost our inhibitions and some of the stuff we explored made me feel really anxious. But we relaxed as we warmed up to the point where it was so much easier to express ourselves.
Then we di d a couple more exercises… we were loosening up, howls, giggling, snorting, spluttering laughter and shouting out words getting to know each other very well and very quickly.
We only had half an hour to go when Lynne handed us the microphone, this was the real thing, I was on, in a supportive environment, it was fast, it was exciting and it was fun……very funny and confidence boosting.
I now know I want more…why don't you try it?
To hear an edited podcast of my experience at the workshop click HERE.
Josephine Pembroke, Presenter radiogorgeous.com
