ONLY two shows were planned when Arts Council funding came through in 1998.

But Chaz Collett has no intention of having the last laugh any time soon as Petersfield Comedy Club reaches a big milestone, writes Paul Ferguson.

“It’s recently dawned on me that I started the comedy club in my early 30s,” said Chaz, whose club is still going strong in the Folly Upstairs in College Street after two decades.

“It’s never been a particularly profitable venture right from the start, but it’s still going. That Arts Council money has gone a long way.”

Many of the country’s most loved and respected comedians have stepped under the club’s spotlight since its launch in the late 1990s.

Three more – including a ‘mystery guest’ who would attract a large audience on the back of recent television success – will follow next Monday when the club holds its 20th anniversary Show.

Rufus Hound, Kevin Bridges and Andy Parsons have all raised laughs in the cosy venue while Jimmy Carr was an early performer.

“We’ve had so many great acts there over the years and there’s a lot of pleasure involved in doing it,” added Chaz.

“At the time we took that picture (above) Jimmy Carr had the opening for Stephen Frost.

“He had only just come down for £20 or maybe free food so he could perform and work on his material.”

To quote the late Leonard Nimoy in an episode of The Simpsons, the world needs laughter, especially as it’s become a much more serious place since Chaz decided to set up the club. Numerous clubs have fallen by the wayside, but Petersfield’s keeps going.

Chaz added: “It’s easier in many ways to run a comedy club these days now we’ve got multimedia and Facebook but you need to have the contacts, which we do.

“Like so many things, the comedy industry is in a bit of slump at the moment and even big clubs like Jongleurs have closed recently.

“The audiences and acts have been absolutely incredible over the years but I have to say that good old Jerry Hicks was instrumental, especially after we left Vertigo.

“Without his support at an early stage the Comedy Club would have gone, but we get continued support from his wife, Sarah.”

Monday’s show will be opened by Scottish comedian Dougie Dunlop, who first performed in the town more than 15 years ago and was managed by Chaz for a similar period.

His dry, almost laconic observational comedy, combined with a sharp wit, has made him a popular act both in the UK and overseas.

The middle act is not being publically announced while the headliner for the evening will be Terry Alderton, who is probably still bouncing off the walls after his Edinburgh Fringe Festival success.

Having enjoyed a warm-up appearance at Petersfield in July, he readily agreed to return for the anniversary show.

Tickets are £9 in advance from the Folly Bar (downstairs) and £10 on the door. The show starts at 8.30pm.