We caught up with queer comedian, writer and podcaster, Jane Postlethwaite, who has her a couple of podcasts, Bats in the Attic and All the Terrible Things, and will be playing a show ‘Mary, Jack and Jane – A Queer Adventure’ at the Edinburgh Fringe this year.
Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you get into comedy?
I’m Jane Postlethwaite, a Northern (Cumbrian) Queer Comedian, Writer and Podcaster.
I got into comedy around 9 years ago by accident. I was living in Brighton at the time and decided to do an acting diploma at Academy of Creative Training. During the course, I loved the comedy roles then after I’d completed the diploma I became drawn to stand up comedy. I did a couple of day workshops with Lynne Parker, the founder of Funny Women, and she liked my material so much she put me on stage at Leicester Square Theatre the same night. This then kicked off my journey into comedy.
Throughout the years I’ve done shows for Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals doing comedy characters, sketches and stand up comedy. Since the pandemic all my shows now are all purely stand up comedy.
When can people see you next perform?
I’ll be at Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year in August sharing an hour of stand up with two other queer friends called Mary Cross and Jack Horsefield.
Our stand up comedy show is called “Mary, Jack and Jane – A Queer Adventure” and is on at PBH’s Free Fringe at Brewdog Lothian Rd every day from 11-18th August at 3.45pm. It’s free to get in and then we have a bucket for donations on the way out. You can find more information over on the Fringe website.
I will then be doing my solo show “Terrible People” at the Women in Comedy Festival on Sunday 6 October at 1.15pm at Fierce Bar, NQ in Manchester.
I also post daily comedy videos to TikTok if you’re into lesbian content and silly videos @janedoescomedy.
What is your coming-out story?
My coming out story is that I came out as a lesbian during the pandemic a few months before my 40th birthday. (In my stand up comedy I blame the vaccine for making me gay).
I always thought I was bisexual as I had always been attracted to women and dated some, but I had long relationships with men as it was the easier option. Less questions and less attention. Looking back, the anxiety I was feeling in those long relationships was there because it wasn’t right for me and i wasn’t being true to myself.
I never had any lesbian representation growing up to look up to or be a LGBTQI+ role model. I knew from a very young age I was different, but didn’t know why.
For a few days in the pandemic, I’d been listening to the Audible podcast called, “Come out! Come out!”, by Mo Welch. I related to so much of what she was saying and the experiences she had. When it was finished, I sat back and thought “Am I a lesbian? I think I’m a lesbian”.
I cried for two days with the relief that I had finally admitted to myself who I really was.
I told my Dad a few days later and he just said, “Well, you do have a t’shirt that says ‘the future is female!’” and my Mum said, “ I was going to talk to you about going through the menopause and the funny ideas you get”. Yeah, that’s northern parents for you.
They didn’t really care and to be honest I think they were relieved they didn’t have to go through meeting another narcissist boyfriend that I brought home.
The most important person to tell was my 90 year old Nanna. She didn’t really say much and I don’t think it even mattered to her.
Once I’d told her a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders so I finally felt free to be myself, post what I wanted on social media and talk about my experiences of being queer on stage in my stand up comedy.
I realise many of the things I was running away from are now the things that make me unique and give me an authentic voice on stage.
Being a lesbian also led me to starting “So Hilarious” a website where I promote my comedy workshops, comedy events and design cool queer ethical t’shirts for women & LGBTQI+ Folk.
Talk us through your new podcast, how did that come about, and how can people get involved?
I’m currently producing two new queer comedy podcasts. One is called, “Bats in Attic” with my fellow queer friend Jack and each episode we discuss a different theme such as spooky places, horror films or monsters that eat children. We also discuss strange ways to die and which we’d prefer. This should be out in July.
The second podcast is called, “All the Terrible Things” and this one is where I am asking LGBTQI+ folk for their experiences with the paranormal, the macabre or anything else a bit weird.
I’m knee deep in research about queer ghosts and hauntings. Who knew there were so many?!
However, my main goal is to collect as many spooky stories and weird experiences from our community as possible.
If you’re reading this and have some stories / weird experiences please do fill out my questionnaire to contribute, I’d absolutely LOVE to hear from you.
Some of the stories will be read out or I may contact you to be interviewed. I’m also very interested in whether LGBTQI+ folk are more open to experiences, more sensitive to energies or attracted to the macabre – because I know I am.
The podcast is going to be a soundscape of storytelling and have special LGBTQI+ guests. I can’t see another podcast where the spooky stories of the LGBTQI+ community are the main feature – so I hope mine is the first!
If you want to keep up with what Jane is doing, follow her on her socials or follow/listen along to her podcasts on the below;
Jane on instagram @janedoescomedy | Tiktok @janedoescomedy
Podcasts on Instagram
Bats in the Attic – @batsintheatticpodcast | All the Terrible Things – @alltheterriblethingspodcast
Thanks for chatting to us.
Team Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
