What happens when a hypochondriac, a celebrant, a widow, a midwife, and a north-sider walk onto a stage? You get The Women’s Room, back with their second instalment, Just Add Estrogen at Canberra Theatre Centre’s Courtyard Studio, 18-19 March.

The Women’s Room say they were surprised where they were in such demand at last year’s Canberra Comedy Festival, they had to put on a second show. Offering something other than a younger male on stage, this year they were offered two shows straight away.

“We wanted to keep it all women; being older women as well, we’ve got a lifetime to laugh and cry about … doing comedy as an older woman gives me, gives us as women a voice,” says Sarah Stewart.

The five women, all of a certain age, bring their own flavour, from dry to upbeat to sticky and itchy. The comedians take experiences from their own lives and observations from the world around them. While they don’t talk about specific patients or clients, family and friends are fair game.

“When you’re a nurse or a midwife or celebrant even, you’ve got to be careful you don’t talk about specific people … you could laugh about situations,” says Sarah.

“We basically draw on our lives; my kids have all gone, so I talk about being an empty nester and being stuck with their possessions, having them gone and still not having an empty nest,” says Jacqui.

Trish Hurley, an ex-nurse and self-confessed hypochondriac who has a habit of diagnosing her friends with obscure illnesses, brings her health scares to the set.

“I have an unusual relationship with health. I’ve done a set about how you’re a nurse or a doctor and if you’re not a hypochondriac then there’s something seriously wrong with you … I actually diagnosed Jacqui with a terminal illness shortly after meeting her,” says Trish.

“I did, in fact, go to the heart specialist and I am fine,” Jacqui smiles.

Jaqui Richards, the dark horse of the group, is an ex-psychologist, grieving widow, and full of surprises.

“I talk a little bit about how I hated being a psychologist and one of the things I say is, it’s a hard job because you can’t tell the truth. You can never say ‘please stop talking. I’m bored’,” says Jacqui.

Sarah Stewart, a midwife and storyteller, has a lot to share. The least cynical of the group, Sarah says she’s evolving into someone’s naughty granny and her biggest fans are young men.

Tania Losanno spends her day surrounded by love as a celebrant, then, after hours, plays the role of carer to her stubborn, ageing parents, one of the biggest sources of material for her recent shows.

“My mum came to the dog park with me the other day and one of the people went up to her and said I don’t know you, but I’ve heard a lot about you through Tania’s comedy. Mum just rolled her eyes and just walked back to the car,” says Tania.

Joining the line-up with the role of emcee is north-sider Sue Stanic, dubbed the funniest middle-aged woman in Belconnen. She says her style is very much like her personality.

“Dry and cynical and self-deprecating, a few d*ckheads I used to work with get a mention, a long time ago but no one in Canberra,” says Sue.

The women thank Canberra comedian Chris Ryan for bringing them together; though Chris didn’t introduce them, she is their central anchoring. During the pandemic, Jacqui, Trish and Sarah took a course by the comedian.

Trish says she never went intended to do comedy; she just wanted an excuse to get out of the house and liked Chris Ryan’s comedy. She was just hoping for a bit of peace and maybe a laugh.

“Chris Ryan is an amazing human being, and I did not want to disappoint her, so I am pretty much here because I didn’t want to let her down,” smiles Trish.

For Jacqui, the class was her daughter’s idea for a creative outlet, and she accompanied her.

“We’re the only three really who have continued and two out of three had no intention of doing comedy at all,” says Jacqui.

Sarah, on the other hand, wanted to try her hand at comedy but was nervous to take the stage. She had been speaking to Sue via social media about how they were both interested; while Sue took the leap Sarah wanted to build up her confidence a bit more.

“Everybody thinks they can stand up and tell a joke, that they’re funny, but actually there is quite a science behind putting a joke together, putting a performance together,” says Sarah.

Sue started about four years ago in one of Chris Ryan’s rooms, where there were five-minute slots for newbies. She says it was permission to be terrible; she wrote some jokes, didn’t invite anyone she knew, and fought back the urge to throw up or run back to her car.

“You try it and it’s like skydiving, going up in the plane, you don’t want to be here anymore, it’s terrifying. Then you do it and you’re like ‘oh, I’d like to do that again’,” says Sue.

Tania has been on the Canberra and Melbourne comedy scene for about 20 years, and prefers working in a group to solo shows.

“Collaborating is so much more fun than being backstage by yourself,” says Tania.

Together, the five women offer a fresh and exciting comedy experience, one they recommend for viewers of all genders and mature ages. 

See the madness in The Women’s Room 2 … just add estrogen at The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, 18-19 March; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.