STAND up Zoe Lyons will be kicking off the the Salisbury Comedy Festival which hits the stage next week.

An Evening with Zoe Lyons is on Friday, December 2, 6.30pm, at Salisbury Arts Centre.

"I am looking forward to it. I often pass through Salisbury on my to other places so it will be good to stop for once," says the Chortle Award winner 2016.

"It is always nice to be part of a festival, it gives people the chance to perhaps see some of their old favourites and maybe even discover some new comics."

"I have [performed in Salisbury before] but it was many moons ago. To be honest I have recollection as to how the gig went, which probably means it went well. It's the shows that are a bit of a challenge that you never forget."

Explaining what audiences can expect from her show, she said: "It's a mix of a bit of personal, a bit political and a lot of prancing about. I am quite a physical act so I tend to charge around the stage a bit. The show also contains a tremendous collection photographs of bins, which is more fun than it sounds...promise."

And discussing the inspiration for her stand up show, Lyons explains: "Inspiration is a weird one, sometimes it eludes me for months and I will hardly write anything and then I will have a string of connecting thoughts that seem to work as a routine. Inspiration is horribly unreliable. I think most comics have that fear that they will never write another joke again."

Lyons says she got into comedy quite late but had always loved being on stage.

"I was late coming to stand up. I had been to drama school after university and I loved being on stage. I was desperate to try comedy for years but the fear put me off. Then one day I just thought, if I never give it a go I will regret it for ever. It is better to try, hate it and fail than always wonder "what if...?"

"I signed myself up for a five minute spot at a new act night in London. I was pretty bad but just standing there and trying gave me such a buzz. I never looked back. Within weeks I was doing three or four new act gigs a week. I got my first agent within a year and was doing stand up full time within three years. I have been going 14 years now."

Salisbury Comedy Festival runs from Friday, December 2 to Saturday 3. Also featuring in the line-up is Shazia Mirza, Craig Ball, James Campbell, Rinkoo Barpaga and Tape Face.

For tickets or more information call the box office on 01722 321744 or go to salisburyartscentre.co.uk