"Women aren’t funny" was the comment from a comedy promoter that spurred funny woman Lynne Parker into action.

She worked as a publicist for her promoter boss and has since gone on to form Funny Women, with its awards soon becoming the benchmark for women in comedy.

And the Funny Women Players group’s performance at the Orange Tree Theatre this weekend is sure to prove the perfect antidote to comedy fans tired of one man and his microphone.

The evening, in aid of Richmond charity the Victoria Foundation, features hilarious games and improvisation, of the sort you might recognise from TV hit Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

Ms Parker says: "We have been getting more and more requests from improv, which is great because I have always been a big fan of it.

"The performance on the 25th will be built as a, kind of, Whose Line Is It Anyway? with lots of fun games such as party quirks, etcetera.

"We did the Orange Tree last year and it went down so well, we have flipped the show and brought the players to the fore - it will be a really good show, I am sure."

She adds that while improvisational comedy is steeped in American tradition, it is only recently the genre has really begun to take off on British soil.

The Orange Tree performance will include special guest appearances from celebrities such as Viv Groskop, Suzy Bennett and Janet Ellis.

Ms Parker adds: "I’m quite sure there will be a few references and jokes alluding to Blue Peter on the night."

All proceeds from the evening will go to the Victoria Foundation, who will in turn put it towards helping whichever good cause they are currently supporting.

If you are looking for a night of hilarity, this is the performance for you.

And if you think that women "aren’t funny" - well, be prepared to be eating some humble pie with your words after the fun-filled evening of improv.

  • Funny Women Players; Orange Tree Theatre, Clarence Street, Richmond; January 25, 7pm; tickets £20; visit orangetreetheatre.co.uk for more details and ticket information.