Exactly a year ago (https://www.oversixty.com.au/editorial/midwife-turns-comedian-at-the-grand-old-age-of-62/), Sarah Stewart (63) was celebrating her move from being a midwife for 40 years into becoming a stand-up comedian.

Sarah spent most of the year touring her comedy show “Midwife Crisis” to sold out audiences at major festivals such as the Adelaide Fringe. But it was far from easy, not least because she had to leave her husband of 40 years, Mark, at home.

“Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer in 2024 and had significant treatment and surgery, so he wasn’t well enough to come on tour with me. Or at least, that’s his excuse! I think it’s that he didn’t want to hear the same jokes and stories for the millionth time!”

This year Sarah has come up with a solution to her touring problems.

“Not only am I taking him on tour, I’m going to be dragging him on stage and roasting him in front of a room of strangers in our new show, “Wedding Ring, SuffeRing” at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. I’ve told him that after staring down a major cancer diagnosis like he did, surviving an hour of comedy quarrelling at The Hymn Bar in Adelaide should be a walk in the park”.

Joining Sarah and Mark are their good friends Jelin and Nick Palm – a sharp Chinese-Australian and a PNG “wild child” who bring their own 20 years of hilarious cross-cultural chaos to the mix.

“Together, we’ve got 60 years of marriage between us, and after the year we’ve had, we’ve realized that if you can’t laugh at the chaos, the laundry, and the literal life-and-death battles, you’re doing it wrong. This show isn’t just about the bickering; it’s a celebration of the fact that we’re still here, still standing, and still making each other laugh, even if Mark is only doing it because I told him he had to.”

This year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival might be the last festival Sarah attends for a while because comedy isn’t the only thing she has to look forward to.

“After everything I have said about not wanting to be a grandmother, we’re expecting two grandbabies in the space of six months. Mark and I are going to be spending a lot of time commuting from Canberra where we live, to Townsville and Cambodia for babysitting duties”.

That being said, Sarah has already sussed out the local comedy club in Siem Reap, where her son and family live.

“Maybe we can take our show to Cambodia and then we can say we’re international comedians – that will be exciting for a pair of old Boomers!”

Sarah and team will be performing their show “Wedding Ring, SuffeRing” at:

Images: Supplied