Newsquest business development manager Mel Burgess is hoping to have the audience roaring with laughter when she joins the line-up for the next Funny Women show in Richmond on Sunday, January 23.

Impressionist Jan Ravens is the host for the evening which is being held to raise funds for Richmond-based charity The Victoria Foundation.

The show at the Orange Tree Theatre features three acts from the 2010 Funny Women Awards. The awards were first launched in 2003 and are now the benchmark for women breaking into comedy.

Gemma Whelan will perform as her spinsterly alter ego Chastity Butterworth and there will be musical musings from Rachel Parris and Alison Thea-Skot.

Canadian Mae Martin, who was voted as one of the funniest people in Toronto by Now Magazine, will be appearing along with newly fledged comic and columnist Viv Groskop and Elizabeth Mee, finalist in the 2009 Funny Women Awards.

This is the second stand-up outing for Burgess who first accepted the challenge given to local businesswomen when she took part in the Funny Women Challenge at The Bingham in November. Now she is brushing up her routine to raise more money for The Victoria Foundation which provides medical help for those in need.

Funny Women, Orange Tree Theatre, Clarence Street, Richmond TW9 2SA. Doors open 7pm, tickets £20. Call 020 8940 3633 or visit orangetreetheatre.co.uk