BEING one of those people who thinks he’s funnier that he actually is, when I saw that there were stand-up comedy workshops being held in Ulverston, I thought I’d give it a go.

Stand-up comedy is everywhere these days. Maybe it’s the new black or possibly the new rock and roll?

One thing is for certain, there is an awful lot to choose from, and all these people had to start somewhere.

The workshops were held at the Laurel and Hardy Museum - quite apt, really, as it’s south Cumbria’s premier comedy venue.

They were facilitated by Jane Postlethwaite. Jane, who has had sell-out shows at Edinburgh festival and gigged with such names as Katherine Ryan and Ramesh Ranganathan, recently moved back to south Cumbria.

At the first workshop we all introduced ourselves to the group, in that excruciating time-honoured fashion.

However, this time it was interspersed with ‘Dad Dancing’, just to add an extra cringe factor. The theory was that if you make yourself look quite ridiculous through dancing things are only going to get better from there, and they did.

Before we knew it we were coming up with lists of inappropriate things to say at a christening, then writing very cutting letters to traffic wardens or old teachers. It was great fun and really got our imaginations flowing. After learning the structure of a joke we settled down for a quiet 15 minutes to write something. Some people had written something previously and brought it with them.

Then it was the biggy - we were to take it in turns to getting behind the mic and delivering our material to each other. It was terrifying sitting and waiting. I was watching the others and laughing but desperately trying to keep what I was going to say in my head. When my name was called I felt sick. I took the mic and introduced myself. The audience looked at me expectantly. So, I began and when I told a joke and people laughed it felt electric. Now, I’m not saying they laughed at every joke, but that’s how you learn isn’t it? That and amazing feedback.

There are more workshops held by Jane, hosted by the Laurel and Hardy Museum in the autumn.

I can’t wait to go to learn more about comedy, and myself - and, of course the ‘Dad Dancing’.