It’s never TOO LATE!

Think stand-up comedy is only for youngsters? Two women show us that all you need is the nerve!

- GILLIAN HARVEY

‘Old age shouldn’t stop us from trying new things’

Sha Wylie, 77, lives in Brighton, East Sussex. In 2005, I made a bucket list that would change my life. I was preparing to retire from my job as a registrar and decided to create a list of fabulous things to do once retired. One of them was to take part in a comedy course – Jill Edwards runs a fantastic programme locally and I’d been tempted to give it a go. It changed my old age in ways I could never have imagined.

I live alone, and moved to Brighton from the New Forest in 2005, to be close to my grown-up children. At that age, other than your loved ones, you don’t have an audience at all – you’re invisible, so the idea of being on stage appealed.

I signed up for a course in spring 2005. There were around 25 participants, and we met once a week for three months, honing our skills and developing our acts. Our final goal was a performance for friends and family at the Sussex County Arts Club. My son, now 51, came along – he’s a very private person and started off with his head in his hands, but was laughing by the end.

I enjoyed myself so much that I just had to do it again. Luckily, Brighton has a brilliant comedy scene – there are countless nights where you showcase new material.