East Kilbride grandmother makes comedy debut in Glasgow

Marie McLaren, from East Kilbride, performed a five-minute routine at The Social Hub in Glasgow during the Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) as part of a special showcase for older comedians.

Her debut was the result of a four-week stand-up comedy course delivered in partnership with Age Scotland and led by comedian Viv Gee, designed to help older people build confidence and combat loneliness through creativity and laughter.

Speaking about her decision to take part in the course, Marie said: "I’ve always liked making people laugh.

"I’ve been a bit of a joker all my life and I’ve never had much time for folk that just complain and moan.

"My friends used to say I should try stand-up, so when my daughter signed me up for this I thought, well, I’ll give it a go.

"I might be 88 but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying new things."

88-year-old Marie Maclaren performed in the Old Ones Are the Best showcase (Image: The Social Hub)

Marie, who moved to East Kilbride in the early 1960s, spent her career balancing work and family life, taking on roles that included sales assistant work, factory shifts and cleaning jobs, all while raising three children.

Though she never pursued comedy professionally, performance wasn’t entirely new to her, having enjoyed walk-on roles alongside her husband through a talent agency, including a part in a Proclaimers music video directed by comedian Matt Lucas.

Marie said: "We did a few walk-ons and one of them was a music video for The Proclaimers.

"We were all dancing about as if we were drunk and it was all a bit mad, but it was great fun.

"It wasn’t comedy, but it gave you a taste of being in front of people and doing something a bit different.

"I enjoyed every minute of it."

The comedy course, created by The Social Hub in partnership with Age Scotland and the GICF, invited older residents with "banter and a bus pass" to turn life experience into laughter.

The sessions culminated in a short set at the final showcase.

Marie said: "I’ll be honest, I was nervous at first because I thought you just stood up and told a couple of jokes and that was it.

"I didn’t realise how much goes into it.

"You have to build a story, work on the timing and think about what people will find funny.

"It’s not easy, but that’s what makes it so good.

"Viv has been brilliant.

"She explains everything properly and gives you the confidence to try it.

"You come in thinking you don’t know what you’re doing and then suddenly you’re writing things down and thinking, I can do this."

During her performance, Marie earned laughs with stories about her daughter, whom she described as "90% and 10% bossy."

Marie said: "The course gave me something to get up for on a Monday morning, to get the bus and be there on time, and I do enjoy it because the people are all lovely.

"I’ve always kept busy and had a good life with friends and family, but this is something completely different and it’s exciting to be part of."

Organisers hope the project will help combat loneliness, as Age Scotland notes that one in 10 older people in Scotland experience chronic loneliness.

Marie believes humour can play a vital role in helping people to connect.

She said: "If you can make people laugh, it lifts them and it lifts you as well.

"You see people smiling and you think, that’s worth it.

"That’s what life’s about.

"You’ve got to enjoy yourself and make the most of it while you can."

After the success of her comedy debut, Marie has expressed her interest in continuing to perform if given the chance.

She said: "If I was asked to do more, I would definitely say yes.

"As long as I can still stand up and make people laugh, I’ll keep going.

"I don’t think you should ever stop.

"If something comes along and you fancy it, just do it."